Brazil is a gold mine of excellent players, with a rich history and a massive talent base to select from. Naturally, not all of these youngsters will be available during next summer’s transfer window, but those who aren’t will be hoping that their day will arrive soon.
As for Brazilian football clubs, they are well known for cultivating and developing young talent, but a lot of Brazilian youngsters are overhyped, especially since they have only played a handful of senior games, and many end up moving when they are very young.
But there are often exceptions – like Neymar – who stay and develop in their home country. However, given their financial constraints, most Brazilian outfits struggle to hang onto their prized assets for long with wealthier clubs in Europe usually profiting from the fruits of their labour.
The Brazilian top division is also not the most highly regarded league in the world in terms of quality, but it is the ultimate showcase for a youngster who has a lot to prove.
On that note, take a look at five young Brazilians who are poised to set the world on fire.
#5 Lincoln Henrique
The Porto Alegre-born forward has attracted a lot of interest in recent months, with both Manchester United and Leicester City keeping close tabs on the 18-year-old. Playing for Gremio, a club famous for producing great players including Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva, Bayern Munich star Douglas Costa and even former Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho, it’s clear that the attacking midfielder could have a great career ahead of him.
A versatile player, Henrique has a fiery attitude and this got him sent off in a game when he was made captain after he reacted badly to being muscled off the ball. However, the youngster shot to prominence all over the world with an audacious back-heel that brought about the comparisons to both Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Ronaldinho.
But comparisons to the aforementioned Brazilan star have only been made because of the youngster’s quick feet and ability to dazzle with tricks and flicks. But it will take a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve those heights and it could be the Premier League that Henrique lights up in the coming years.
#4 Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira
Malcom is just 20 and plays for the cash-strapped South American giants Corinthians. The youngster has spent his entire career at the club after he was given a chance to shine for the team by Mano Menezes in 2014.
Since then, he hasn’t looked back and soon became the leading striker for the team. His coach has openly admitted the youngster’s influence on the team, praising him for single-handedly raising the confidence of the rest of the team.
Strength, pace, and skill are a healthy cocktail in a young player, capable of attracting a fair few glances from any club in the world. The young Brazilian striker has all these attributes in no small amount and uses them to his advantage.
Playing just behind the main striker, Malcom is an influential figure in the attack and has the creativity to set up his teammates and put them through into good shooting positions. However, at the same time, he also has the skillset to create for himself and finish one-v-one chances.
With both Manchester United and Liverpool after the Brazilian youngster, a major problem is his complex ownership situation, with 70% of his rights owned by a businessman, someone who will definitely have a huge say as to where Malcom does end up.
#3 Thiago Maia
Born in the Boa Vista – the capital of Brazilian state Roraima – Thiago Maia is a defensive midfielder who currently plays for Brazilian club Santos. After recently signing a new contract which keeps him at the club until 2019, Maia joined up with the Brazilian U-20 team and earned his starting place, albeit benefitting from the injury to teammate Alison.
The 20-year-old’s main attributes are his ability to break down play and distribute the ball to his more technically superior teammates. His strength and reading of the game are incredible plus points with the defensive midfielder making a minimum of 3.1 tackles a game in the league, proving that he could do well at a top European team if he keeps his head down and works hard.
At 20 years of age, the deep-lying midfielder could easily finish out his contract at his current club before making his way into European football with Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, and even PSG after the Brazilian.
With regards to his price, Santos have already rejected an offer of €18 million from Zenit St. Peterburg, and with Manchester City shelling out a reported sum of €27 million for Gabriel Jesus, Maia’s price may well rise depending on his performances over the next few seasons.
#2 Vitinho
Vitinho was Brazil’s top scorer in the last South American U-15 Championship with seven goals and has already had a trial in the Premier League with Manchester City.
This gives Pep Guardiola’s side the first crack at him and thus the Etihad stadium club has a chance of bringing him to Europe when he turns 18 in a year’s time.
Viewed as one of many bright prospects at Corinthians, Vitinho has already made a name for himself, with both Brazil and his club. The 17-year-old has already won the U-17 Copa do Brazil, the U-20 Sao Paulo youth cup and was Brazil’s star during the U-15 South American Championships. The Guarulhos youngster, who is from a Corinthian family, started his career via futsal before finally reaching a Corinthians pitch.
He currently is the captain and wears the number 10 for the Brazil U-17 team and is regarded as the most skilful player of his age group. The youngster has time on his side to improve at home before coming to Europe to dazzle crowds.
#1 Vinicius Junior
The 16-year-old winger who’s already been called the next Neymar, Vinicius Junior is Brazil’s hottest prospect in football. After Neymar and Gabriel Jesus’ departure to Europe, all eyes are now on the Flamengo prodigy – with La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, Premier League giants Manchester City, Manchester United and even Chelsea expressing their interest in the 16-year-old.
One thing is for sure, Vinicius cannot sign a pro-contract with any European club until he turns 18. That does not prevent him from agreeing terms earlier on which makes the rumours linking him with a move that much more exciting.
But the question remains – should the Brazilian rush his move to Europe, or try and prove himself in the South American continent first?
