Born in Bicas in 1991, Danilo started at Belo Horizonte-based side America Mineiro when he was 12, and working his way through the Club’s youth system winning the Campeonato Brasileno de Serie C (third tier) title before joining Santos in 2010. Full name Danilo Luiz da Silva, he was reportedly "inseperabale" from Neymar at Santos, and scored the decisive goal from central midfield in the 2-1 win against Penarol in the 2011 Copa Libertadores final. Porto decided to splash out 13m euros for Danilo in January 2012, and at the time was the club's second most expensive signing ever. He won the Under-20 World Cup with Brazil in 2011, and was part of the Brazil team that won the silver medal at London
