Why City's new 20 million Brazilian man is no ordinary Jo

At first glance, Manchester City's record signing appears to be a 6ft 2in beast of a target man. His gangling gait suggests he is better in the air than with the ball at his feet and his wild hair gives the impression he is an extrovert.

Going with the fro: Jo will relish City life

None of these assumptions about the 21-year-old arriving at Eastlands from CSKA Moscow for £20million are true. Jo took the increasingly familiar path from Brazil to the former Soviet Union little more than two years ago, when he signed for £3.5m from Corinthians where he played alongside Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

But while many South Americans freeze up in the cold climate - such as City midfielder Elano while at Shakhtar Donetsk - Jo was a revelation.

Operating best as a second striker who drops deep to exploit gaps and run at defenders, he scored 44 goals in 77 games. Average in the air, he has pace and good close control, with a rasping left-foot.

Not that life in Moscow was easy. He lived with his mother, who cooked up a flavour of home, and wife Claudia Santos, who told how they endured racial abuse.

'Once, we had lunch at McDonald's and coffee was thrown at us by a Russian who does not like blacks,' she said. 'On the streets, locals make the sign of a cross at us. Now we have to eat out discreetly.' Jo has been capped once by Brazil, against Turkey last June.

At the Under 20 World Cup he was played in a traditional centre forward's role - not his favoured position - alongside AC Milan wonderboy Alexandre Pato. But Jo believes the worldwide exposure of the Barclays Premier League will help him to gain regular call-ups.

'Who would not want to play in England?' said Jo after hearing of City's interest. 'In my opinion, Manchester City are one of the top six clubs in England.'

City were not the only ones interested but others stalled when CSKA insisted they would not do a deal for less than the striker's £20m release clause.

Money is not an issue to the Russian club, they just can't keep hold of players who want to leave. Everton were keen, Valencia made an approach in January, Real Madrid and Inter Milan showed interest and AC Milan were advised to take the plunge by Leonardo, their former Brazil star who advises the club.

But Kia Joorabchian, the businessman who owns a share of this summer's hot property and was responsible for bringing Tevez and Mascherano to the Premier League, advised the striker on taking the next plane to England.

Now all he has to do is prove he's no ordinary Jo.