World Cup winner Roberto Carlos will come out of retirement to play for Shrewsbury & District Sunday League side Bull In The Barne United - and it might be the greatest deadline day signing of all time.
The former Real Madrid full-back, who lifted three Champions League trophies and four La Liga titles during a trophy-laden 24 year career, is set to pull on the famous jersey next month in a one-off appearance after the pub side won a competition.
Sunday League teams around the country could enter eBay's ‘dream transfer raffle’, with a fee of just £5 needed take part in the once-in-a-life opportunity.
All of the funds from those fiver bids have gone towards educational charity Football Beyond Borders, a charity that uses football to change the lives of young people.
Ed Speller, who is the club's player-manager, couldn't believe his luck after entering the competition on a whim.
“One of my mates sent me a link to the raffle and I thought it would be a good laugh to enter, thinking nothing more of it, but when I had the email – it was just mad to be honest," he told Shropshire Star.
“Roberto Carlos is a legend and one of the top players to ever play the game, it was a proper ‘wow’ moment when we found out.
“Most people think I’m playing an elaborate trick on everyone, no-one could really believe it. I keep checking my phone thinking to myself someone might be having me on. It gets more surreal each day.
“We’re just an amateur pub team in Shropshire where everyone pays their own subs to pay, so it’s surreal to know he is coming to play with us.”
Callum Bebb, the club's resident centre-back, is "absolutely buzzing" at the thought of playing alongside the veteran defender, but the 29-year-old will not hold back if Carlos doesn't live up to expectations on the Sunday League stage.
"I found out through the team group chat on Friday afternoon and got very little work done afterwards," the 29-year-old told SPORTbible.
"We all knew the manager had entered us but nobody really believed him to begin with. These kind of things you read about and laugh. They don’t happen to you.
"He had some work to do to convince us all it was legit. Even now, I don’t think we’ve fully digested it yet.
"I can't wait to play alongside such a legend of the game, but I won’t hesitate to lambast him if he isn’t fulfilling his defensive duties."
Bebb added: "It's looking like it may well be the most people we have ever played in front of, so I’m sure there will be some nerves."
A date has yet to be confirmed for Carlos' official debut for the Sunday League side but the event will happen next month.
What a time to be alive.
Topics: Roberto Carlos, Brazil, Football World Cup, Football
Jack Kenmare