Ailton is returning to the Bundesliga, where the Brazilian had a glorious 2003-04 at Werder Bremen when his 28 goals topped the league scoring table and helped Werder win a league and cup double.

After an unhappy year at Schalke 04 and spells in Istanbul, Belgrade and Zurich (as well as a brief stop in Hamburg) Ailton has signed with newly promoted MSV Duisburg. ”It was a big mistake to ever leave the Bundesliga,” he said.

He seems to be part of a trend. Ze Roberto is returning to Bayern Munich after a year back home in Brazil, Marcelinho came back to the Bundesliga at Wolfsburg earlier this year after his move from Hertha Berlin to Turkey didn’t work out and Ewerthon, formerly of Borussia Dortmund, has returned to play at champions Stuttgart on loan from Real Zaragoza.

There are plenty of new Brazilian faces, too. Werder Bremen have led the way by bringing in Carlos Alberto, for 7.8 million euros, to play alongside compatriots Diego and Naldo. Other moves include Fernando Santos and Maicon to Duisburg, Diego Morais and Orestes to Hansa Rostock and Gledson to Stuttgart.

Cold cash may be part of the reason. As Bayern sporting director Uli Hoeness often said, the Bundesliga might not be able to promise the big salaries that players in other top European leagues offer but at least they can sleep well at night knowing their wages will be paid on time.

But Hoeness has another theory — a “World Cup effect”. He believes foreign players might think that because the weather during the 2006 World Cup in June and July was so warm and the people so friendly that it’s like that all the time in Germany.

The World Cup surely had an impact. The stadiums in Germany, most of which were beautifully renovated in a massive spending programme for the tournament, have an unrivalled quality and the crowds in Bundesliga stadiums are always large and enthusiastic.

Or why else would anyone want to live in Germany?

Erik Kirschbaum, Berlin