Clubs: Sport Club Corinthians Alagoano, Clube de Regatas Brasil, TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, FC Bayern München

• Comfortable at the back or as a defensive midfielder, Luiz Gustavo had played a handful of matches in the Brazilian second tier when Hoffenheim − then in the 2. Bundesliga − secured his signature in August 2007.

• Initially a loan move, the deal became permanent at the end of a 2007/08 season in which he made 27 league appearances as Hoffenheim won promotion to the top flight as runners-up to VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.

• Prominent again in 2008/09 as Hoffenheim took the Bundesliga by storm, leading the way for over half of the season before falling away and finishing seventh.

• Scored his first goals in German football during the 2010/11 campaign, his last effort for Hoffenheim coming on his 99th and final league appearance for the club − in a 2-2 draw with VfL Wolfsburg on 18 December 2010.

• Joined Bayern in early January 2011 for a reported fee of €15m, making his debut as a substitute against Wolfsburg in the first match after the winter break.