Iruan Ergui Wu (
A Brazilian TV reporter, accompanied by Brazil's top representative in Taipei Paulo Pinto, went to Iruan's kindergarten in Kaohsiung County Friday to present him with an autographed football jersey and a hat from Ronaldinho.
"He smiled a lot then, so it showed he was very happy [upon receiving the gift]," Pinto told the Taipei Times.
Ronaldinho also sent the little boy from his hometown, Porto Alegre in southern Brazil, a taped message saying "the whole Brazilian team is wishing the best for you," according to Pinto, director of the Brazil Business Center.
Pinto said the gift from Ronaldinho was "a reward" to the boy, who turns eight years old next month, for what he termed "all the efforts" the boy has made to show his Brazilian roots.
According to Pinto, Iruan even drew pictures of soccer balls for a local judge last April, expressing his willingness to return to Brazil.
Iruan was born to a Brazilian mother who died in Brazil three years ago and a Taiwanese father, Wu Teng-shu (
Iruan's Taiwanese uncle, Wu Huo-yen (吳火眼), managed to obtain permanent resident status for the boy in June of last year, claiming he did so to fulfill his brother's wish that the child be raised in Taiwan.
When contacted by the Taipei Times yesterday, Wu Huo-yen was lukewarm about the gesture.
"Iruan just put the stuff aside after he came back [from school], and I have already put it away," he said. When asked if Iruan has been watching the World Cup, Wu said: "We have not been watching the football matches."
Pinto said earlier this month that Iruan was shown on TV watching dragon boat races in an attempt to show he has assimilated to local customs.
"But the boy is still a Brazilian by soul and by culture, and nobody can deny that," Pinto said.
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