Author: Amrit Santlani
Brazil has long been the focus of attention for European clubs when it comes to signing teenage talent, and in recent years there have been many success stories.
From the days of Neymar and Oscar to Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Lucas Pacqueta, there is a long list of Brazilians who have lit up world soccer, which is why clubs continue to keep an eye on Brazilian players.
Vitor Roque ‘s transfer to Barcelona, confirmed a few weeks earlier, made it even clearer that South America remains one of the main hunting grounds for great players.
In recent months, many Brazilian youngsters have attracted the interest of the Premier League, with Matheus França (Flamengo) being one of the names on the list. The 19-year-old hasn’t featured much for the club, but he’s shown enough for the Londoners to pay him a considerable sum.
Another 19-year-old Flamengo star who has been causing a sensation with his performances is Victor Hugo. Coach Jorge Sampaoli is a big fan of the youngster and the midfielder is versatile enough to play in a more central midfield position as well as further forward. Real Madrid and Barcelona have shown interest in the player.
André, Fluminense‘s star player, is another player who is winning many admirers in Europe. The 22-year-old recently made his international debut. A player who plays as a central defender and sometimes has the ability to play on the wing, he has been linked with Liverpool, among other big Premier League players.
Another position where Brazil has become a mass producer of talent is goalkeeper, and one of the most promising names on the list is Bento, who plays for Athletico Paranaense.
It has been reported that Benfica are looking to sign him, but as the South American season runs until the end of December, the Brazilian club would like to keep him for a few more months.
Another player who has been attracting attention with his performances is Lucas Perri, from Botafogo. The 25-year-old spent the entire 2019 season on loan at Crystal Palace and, although he didn’t play a single game, the experience seems to have done him a lot of good.
One Botafogo talent who has been linked with many Premier League clubs is 19-year-old striker Matheus Nascimento. Although the youngster hasn’t stood out much in the first team, and his slender frame would need to be worked on to fight in England, he remains a talent for the future.
Similarly, another 19-year-old, Lucas Berardo of São Paulo, has been a key figure in his team’s recent impressive performances. Although the central defender still needs a bit of work to establish himself in the Premier League, a left-back capable of playing in defense would be a valuable commodity on the market.
It’s known that Arsenal are keeping tabs on Gremio‘s attacking midfielder Bitello, after having hit the jackpot with Gabriel Martinelli. The 23-year-old has been a star of Gremio’s resurgence, and the signing of Luis Suárez has also influenced the Brazilian, who is quick and versatile, able to play both in the middle and on the wing.
His Gremio teammate Ferreira, 25, is also attracting interest due to his right foot, as he is able to cut in from the left and score a beautiful curling goal. Celtic are reportedly interested in signing the midfielder, but his injury record could be an obstacle.