Manchester City's new international coach Roberto Carlos de Carvalho could have a bigger influence at Eastlands than originally believed.
De Carvalho has been recruited to bring through a future set of worldwide stars and save the former Thai leader from splashing out.
De Carvalho, 60, worked as coach in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and was a player with Santos and Botafogo in his homeland.
He will work as part of Sven Goran Eriksson's team, but close links with Shinawatra could see him take a more senior role in time, says the Mirror.