The Brazilian talent factory is always working hard and the latest star outside the production line looks to be Fluminense midfielder Matheus Martinelli.
According to Globe Esporte, scouts from both Manchester United and Arsenal have kept a close eye on the teenager, who first made his senior debut in November 2020 and is already an important part of the Fluminense lineup.
Martinelli’s stock will only rise, so it’s time to get to know him.
At home at the base of Fluminense’s midfield, Martinelli’s bread and butter pass around the entire pitch.
He likes to sit deep, pick up possession and dictate the pace of the match – a style of play that has given him some comparisons to Chelsea and Italy star Jorginho.
“Martinelli seems to be 30 years old, with such a personality and reading of the game,” manager Marcão (via Lance) says when describing the teenager’s style of play.
Fans have compared Martinelli to Xavi | Alex Caparros / Getty Images
His creativity and selflessness have made Martinelli an instant hit with the Fluminense fan base, many of whom have started calling him ‘Xavinelli’ due to similarities with Barcelona icon Xavi.
“I was very happy when I saw it on Twitter,” Martinelli said of the nickname. “He’s an idol, nothing needs to be said about him, he was a good player. I’m very happy with this comparison. I will try to follow in his footsteps.”
The idea of a player “talking to his feet” is a bit of a cliché, but in Martinelli’s case it describes him perfectly.
He may not have been in the public eye for long, but Martinelli has already gained a reputation as someone who fights in front of the media. He rarely does interviews and is usually so uncomfortable that his answer is one or two words.
It’s something Martinelli is trying to work on, but he’s happy enough to let his performance speak for itself.
Martinelli has never hidden his desire to take his career to the next level in Europe.
“I think every player has a different maturity, some mature faster and others later,” he told Esporte News Mundo. “I’m very focused on Fluminense because I know that if I have a good campaign, the doors will be open.
“It’s every player’s dream to go to Europe, but there’s still a lot of work to do this season. When the proposals come, players have to sit down with their sticks to see what’s best for both of them.”
While Martinelli clearly plans to go to Europe, it seems that his biggest goal is to become a legend at Fluminense as the iconic striker Fred.
“I’m thinking of one day becoming an idol like Fred,” he admitted. “I have my head in Fluminense and I do not think about external things now. I want to stay here and play in the Copa Libertadores.”
An increased focus on youth development has made Fluminense bring through some real gems and Martinelli’s generation of players will especially remember.
Known as Geração de Ouro, Martinelli was part of a U-17 side that featured as Watfords forward Joao Pedro and current first team stars Marcos Paulo, Calegari and Luiz Henrique.
Martinelli’s side won everything there is to win at the youth level in Brazil and they are the gold standard that every harvest of new players is held against.
VITÓRIA TRICOLOR! Confirm Nino and Martinelli’s goals, three wins over Goiás! Vamos, Fluzão! ?? pic.twitter.com/UXOxD1IjO5
– Fluminense FC (@FluminenseFC) February 1, 2021
Goals will never be an important part of Martinelli’s game – he’s too focused on passing and creating chances to get to the end of them himself – but that’s something he’s keen to change.
Martinelli is doing a decent job with it so far. He struck twice in a 3-0 victory against Goias in February and managed to score another goal before the month was over.
Never expect him to be challenging for some golden boots, but Martinelli hopes to be able to develop an eye for goals that at least cause problems for the defenders.
At Fluminense, academy coaches spend a lot of time trying to instill a winning mentality in their players.
“We have great affection for the victorious career that belonged to Fred, Nenê, Ganso and Egídio,” Martinelli revealed. “So, younger people are trying to mirror them in order to have a very successful career like theirs.
“They also teach us a lot in training and in conversations. They are people who always help us a lot. They tell us to keep our heads focused so that we can achieve amazing things.”
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