Ganso: "I almost quit"

 　　RIO DE JANEIRO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Brazil international midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso has revealed he almost quit soccer after early setbacks in his professional career.

　　The 22-year-old made his debut¹ for Santos at the age of 18 in 2008 but spent long periods of his first season struggling for form in the club's reserve team.

　　"I was given opportunities but wasn't confident of being able to make it," Ganso told Esporte Espetacular. "It got me down and at one stage I thought about going back to study."

　　After an improved 2009 season, Ganso emerged² as one of the finest talents in the game in 2010. He is now an important member of Brazil's national squad³ having been given the prized No.10 shirt during last year's Copa America tournament in Argentina.

1 debut   

n.首次演出，初次露面

参考例句：

• That same year he made his Broadway debut, playing a suave radio journalist.在那同一年里，他初次在百老汇登台，扮演一个温文而雅的电台记者。
• The actress made her debut in the new comedy.这位演员在那出新喜剧中首次登台演出。

2 emerged   

vi. 浮现, (由某种状态)脱出, (事实)显现出来

参考例句：

• They emerged from the church into the bright daylight. 他们走出教堂来到明亮的日光下。
• The swimmer emerged from the lake. 游泳者从湖水中浮出来。

3 squad   

n.班，小队，小团体；vt.把…编成班或小组

参考例句：

• The squad leader ordered the men to mark time.班长命令战士们原地踏步。
• A squad is the smallest unit in an army.班是军队的最小构成单位。