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Brazil has always been a hotbed of talent. The amount of talent is so high across the country that the big guns from Europe are able to lure them even before other Brazilian teams can make a move for them.
There are dozens of examples such as Roberto Firmino and Ederson Moares who have moved to Europe even before debuting in Brazil's top flight.
That explains why Brazil was the most represented nation in the UEFA Champions League group stage this season with 45 players.
As the summer transfer window continues in full swing, here are 4 of Brazil's brightest talents who can make a move to Europe this summer.
#4 Antony (Winger, Sau Paulo):
The youth system that has produced the likes of Cafu, Kaka, and most recently Casemiro has a new gem in their hands. Young winger Antony is 19 years old but is already attracting the likes of AC Milan, Arsenal and Ajax to name a few.
A Sau Paulo local, Antony has been a part of Sau Paulo FC since the age of 11, rising through their ranks and finally making his senior team debut last year in November coming on as a substitute against Gremio.
While representing Sau Paulo FC's U20 side he was a force to reckon with as he led them to 3 titles - the Brazilian Cup, the Super Cup and the Copa Sao Paulo Juniors. Antony was also part of the Sao Paulo team that won the J-League Challenge in Japan in 2018, where he won the Player of the Tournament award.
Like all players originating from Brazil, Antony is a creative player with great acceleration skills, close control and an eye for a pass. He likes to beat defenders with tricks and feints and can get out of tight spaces using futsal-style techniques. Even though he's primarily a winger but Antony likes to play in a free attacking role allowing him the freedom to roam around the pitch and find space.
A highly touted talent, Antony recently signed a contract with Sao Paulo which has set his release clause at €50 million.
#3 Renan Lodi (Left Back, Athletico Paranaense):
Top-tier fullbacks are worth their weight in gold. Just ask Liverpool, who conquered Europe with Robertson and Alexander Arnold playing pivotal roles!
Brazil has produced some world class fullbacks over the years like Marcelo, Filipe Luis, and Alex Sandro to name a few. A new name has now been doing its rounds in the Brazilian footballing circuit - Athletico Paranaense left-back Renan Lodi.
A Sau Paulo native, Lodi joined Athletico Paranaense's youth system at the young age of 12 and over the past 2 years has blossomed into one of the best-attacking left-backs in South America. He was one of the star performers for Athletico Paranaense in their 2017/18 Copa Sudamericana winning campaign where he scored 2 goals and set up 3 for his teammates while on the defensive end he helped his team to 6 clean sheets in 12 games.
In total Lodi has played 48 games for Athletico Paranaense scoring 4 goals and providing 8 assists in that time period.
Like most Brazilian left-backs, Lodi loves to take the ball into the opposition half but he doesn't shy away from doing the dirty work in defense. His main strengths are his speed and crossing abilities, and he also possesses a high-quality motor which allows him to cover both sides of the pitch without breaking a sweat.
#2 Bruno Guimaraes (Midfielder, Athletico Paranaense):
Brazilian midfielders have always been in great demand in Europe. Players like Fernandinho, Coutinho and Arthur have all made a fortune by plying their trade at some of the biggest clubs in Europe.
Clubs like to buy young players, usually those earmarked by scouts, so that they can be nurtured and moulded into the club's playing style. This will allow the player to have a smooth transition into the league as he starts to hit his prime.
One such player currently being earmarked by scouts is Athletico Paranaense's midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The 21-year-old is a mix between a deep-lying playmaker and a box-to-box midfielder, he likes to dish out long balls to forwards but is not afraid to join them in the attack either.
Bruno played a vital role in Athletico Paranaense's 2017/18 Copa Sudamericana victory where he played in all the matches bar one, scoring two goals. He started in both legs of the semi-final and final.
Bruno's biggest strengths are his vision and passing. He is always aware of where everyone is on the pitch and finds them with perfect passes. His movement off the ball has impressed many. Going deep, he picks up spaces between his team’s defence and the midfield, trying to find ways to play the ball.
Bruno understands the in-game situations very well, allowing him to play anywhere in the midfield displaying a quality that most clubs would fork out a fortune for - versatility. He does not shy away from making tackles and his in-game reading abilty allows him to make interceptions on a regular rate.
#1 Pedro (Forward, Fluminense):
Pele, Ronaldo Nazario and Neymar Jr. are some of the world-class forwards that Brazil has produced over the years, providing fans all around the world a spectacle full of skill and goals.
The South American nation has introduced some new names like Gabriel Jesus to the international stage over the last couple of years. A few more are making noise in their national league. One among this bunch who stands out from the rest is Fluminense's Pedro.
A Rio de Janeiro native, Pedro joined Flamengo's youth system at the tender age of 8 and represented them for 6 years before they released him at the age of 14. He joined local side Duquecaxiense for a couple of seasons before finally joining Fluminense in 2014.
Pedro made his senior team debut in 2016 and has not looked back since. Over the last 3 seasons (till 2018), Pedro has played 76 times for the Flu scoring 26 goals in that time period. He was the top scorer in the 2018 edition of Campeonato Carioca scoring 7 goals in 13 games which earned him a place in the Team of the Tournament.
Pedro is a classic number nine who is known for his positioning in and around the box, his finishing, his strength and his power. His exploits in the Brazilian League have already attracted likes of Bordeaux and Monterrey.
