Player Profile: Danilo (Vasco Da Gama)

Liverpool sent scouts to this year’s Toulon Tournament to take a look at the young Brazilian midfielder Matheus Biteco, but they came back with a new name for LFC fans to look out for – Danilo Barbosa da Silva.

Danilo is a midfielder who plays his youth football for Rio de Janeiro based club Vasco da Gama, and the 17-year-old now seems to be the preferred option for Liverpool as they look to sign a young defensive midfielder who can develop at the club.

He was born in the city of Simões Filho in north eastern Brazil, not far from Salvador, but has been at Vasco since the age of 15. He has played for the Brazilian junior and youth sides since the age of 14, and he was involved in both the U15 2011 South American Championship winning side, and the U20 team which recently won the Toulon Tournament.

At such a young age, it’s difficult to nail down a position for a player, but Danilo has emerged through the youth teams of Brazil as an all round footballer who is best utilised in a midfield position. The typical trickery and flair of Brazilian youth, has evolved into a more considered and composed approach to the game. He’s also comfortable with both feet, as seems the norm with the Brazilian players Liverpool show interest in.

Liverpool fans are already digging around for comparisons to Lucas, but some Brazilians who’ve seen the player will compare him to Brazil regular and recent Spurs signing Paulinho, which could mean he’s like Lucas, but more like the Lucas we saw at Grêmio.

There’s no doubt as to what position Liverpool will have in mind for him, as they’ve long searched for that second defensive midfielder to add to the squad, and look intent on developing their own rather than looking for the finished article.

It’s likely that Danilo will be called up to the Brazil squad for the 2013 U17 World Cup this October in the UAE, so fans might get a chance to see the player then. He could also make the odd appearance with the under 20 side, as his rise through the youth ranks continues.

Danilo turns 18 on the 28th of February next year (2014), so will be able to move to Europe in the following transfer window as Brazilians can’t move abroad until they are 18. So it might be a wait, but hopefully it’ll be worth it!