*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2021
Alípio Duarte Brandão (born 7 June 1992), known simply as Alípio, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder.
Early years
Born in Brasília, Distrito Federal, Alípio left Brazil at the age of 14. An orphan, he moved to Portugal with his legal guardian Helber Damião, co-owner of the football school Dois Toques.
His first footballing rights were split between Damião, his original club in his homeland, Sport Club Internacional, and the team to where he moved, Rio Ave FC.[1]
Club career
In November 2008, Alípio joined Real Madrid for roughly €1.4 million, without having made one single first-team appearance with Rio Ave.[2] He scored two goals on his debut for the C-team which operated in Tercera División,[3] and played his second game against CF Rayo Majadahonda in a 2–0 home win, as they eventually finished in eighth position;[4] he played most of his first two years, however, with the Juvenil side.[5]
After scoring in a training match against the Real Madrid first team on 11 February 2009,[6] Alípio made his official debut for Real Madrid Castilla four days later, against Águilas CF, as an 87th-minute substitute for Miguel Palanca. Thus, he became the youngest player ever to appear for the reserves;[7] during the ten minutes he played, he impressed spectators and his coaches alike with his ball skills.[8]
Alípio idolized Ronaldo while he was growing up. His compatriot also played professionally for Real Madrid, winning the 2002 FIFA World Cup with Brazil.[13]
^"Alípio em nova cedência" [Alípio in new loan] (in Portuguese). Notícias do Futebol. 18 October 2011. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2013.