888poker Inks Sponsorship Deal With 2002 FIFA World Cup Champion Denilson

888poker has signed up high-profile footballer, 2002 FIFA World Cup Champion Denilson (cover image) as its latest brand ambassador. Denilson is the second football star to represent 888poker and comes almost two years, after the company had signed up Uruguay and Liverpool striker Luis Suarez. 888poker parted ways with Suarez only a month after inking the deal, following his notorious biting incident during a group match against Italy.

Last year, PokerStars had signed up three pro footballers, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr and Ronaldo Nazário as sponsored pros.

Speaking about his new role in the poker field, Denilson said, “All my friends started to play poker and so I got more and more interested in the game.”

He went on to add, “many of the qualities you need to be a successful footballer can help you improve your poker game. 888poker is one of the biggest and best poker platforms in the world, so I am very proud to join the 888poker team. I hope it will help develop my own pokers skills as well as encourage new players to get involved in this exciting game.”

Reputed for his excellent dribbling skills, a great technique, and understanding of the game, Denilson is a skilful and dynamic winger in international football. Denilson has collected several titles in his 16-year long career, having represented 10 different teams in four continents. His career highlights include being a part of Spain’s Copa del Rey, the legendary team that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and Korea; plus the Brazilian League and Copa America. Denilson first made headlines in 1998, when he received the highest amount ever-heard at that time of £21.5 million to join Spain’s Real Betis.

Welcoming the new star, Itai Pazner, Senior Vice President & Head of B2C at 888 Holdings stated, “We’re delighted to have signed him as a member of the 888poker team, because we want poker players to approach the game in a similar way. It is a game of skill, it takes practice and intelligence, but we also want our players to have fun and enjoy themselves along the way.”

Denilson will be the first Brazilian sports star to join 888poker and will have fellow countrymen Bruno Kawauti, Bruno Politano, and Nicolau Villa-Lobos as team mates on the brand’s pro roster to coach him on the nuances of poker.