We all love a Brazilian prodigy, and the next one for you to get excited about looks to be Palmeira’s midfielder Gabriel Menino.
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The Brazilian media have been full of reports suggesting that Chelsea have already reached an agreement to sign the 20-year-old, and while Fabrizio Romano has poured some cold water on it, it is clear that the Blues are interested in a player whose stock is rising with each passing day.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about Menino.
Menino can be billed as a central midfielder, but that is just one of several positions where he has been.
If Menino does not play centrally, you will probably find him on the right back. He has played as a traditional defender, a wingback and has even been used further up as a winger, but that’s only half the fun.
The Brazilian has even appeared occasionally on the left side of the pitch, and he has also had some moves as an attacking midfielder. He is the definition of versatile.
You will not find Menino playing midfielder these days, but that is the position he started his football journey in.
Speaking to ESPN, one of Menino’s former coaches, Gustavo Nabinger, said: “Menino came at the end of 2013 to trial as a midfielder and he was quickly approved. But I quickly changed his position, because he was good forward and getting into the box.
“He marked well, as he does now, and he was strong for his age but not very tall.”
Menino watched movies by Toure | Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA / Getty Images
Nabinger also revealed that he used to force Menino to watch videos of former Manchester City star Yaya Toure in an attempt to turn him into a box-to-box powerhouse.
The comparisons between the two are clear, although they are also a bit lazy. Menino is much smaller, less of a goal threat and more dynamic in defense, so his billing as “the Brazilian Yaya Toure” is a bit wide of the mark.
A more accurate comparison would be Bayern Munich defender-midfielder Joshua Kimmich, while in Brazil they prefer to compare him with Dani Alves.
Tite sees Menino as a replacement for Alves Quality Sport Images / Getty Images
Menino has already been called up to Tite’s senior Brazil team, and although he is not yet making his first appearance for Selecao, he is expected to have a long future on the right back.
Athletic revealed that Tite sees Menino as the man who finally replaces Alves in Brazil’s defense.
“They play in the same areas and have similar attacking features,” Tite said. “Obviously, in the defensive phase he will run into a back four … (but) he will have an attacking function in the team. He will formulate the play. Menino is a midfielder. He has experience and training for that role. It’s not just my imagination. ”
Menino is not yet known as an elite defender, so Tite’s idea of turning him into the starting line-up for Brazil has been met with some scrutiny, but the Palmeiras man believes he has what it takes to succeed there.
“After I was selected for the national team, I started to prioritize this position more,” he said (via Globo Esporte) about the right-back role.
“[Palmeiras manager Aber Ferreira] told me that he would help me be the best right-back in Brazil and improve me so that I can be on a par with the Brazilian team. “
He may not have been in the Palmeiras installation for a long time, but Menino has already done enough to earn the cornerbacks, and it’s not hard to see why.
Many of his assists come from corners, with Menino seeming to be able to drop the ball on a teammate’s head whenever he wants.
He has not yet translated that skill to cross in the game, although his numbers suggest the potential is there.
Menino is a shy player who does not offer too many interviews, but in those he does he is always happy to talk about his high hopes of moving to Europe.
“I think my football today fits in with Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, maybe even Manchester City,” Menino told A Bola. “They are all teams with very strong players, with a quick touch of the ball, they like to attack and defend in blocks.”
In another interview with Fox Sports (via UOL), Menino emphasized his desire to join Barcelona and play alongside his “idol”, Lionel Messi.
When it comes to inspiration, Menino seems to have a lot. Messi may be his true idol, but the boy has also given a nod to Kaka, Andres Iniesta and the former Chelsea man Ramires.
AS spoke to Menino about comparisons with Real Madrid anchor Casemiro, and he added his countrymen to the ever-growing list of inspiration.
“I love Casemiro’s style,” he replied. “He is a midfielder who always plays very well, he is consolidated in Europe and also in the national team. He came through very young and immediately made room with his quality. He is a very hard working and very humble guy.”
⚽? @ gabrielmenino00, Gol de Gente Grande!
? RUN GO-LA-ÇO! Gabriel Menino, from the forum, created this marvel at La Paz, following @Palmeiras about @Bolivar_Oficial.
? In #Libertadores, the average of 1️⃣9️⃣ years marked the first goal as a professional. # GloriaEterna pic.twitter.com/sdmIEEM8cZ
– CONMEBOL Libertadores (@LibertadoresBR) 17 September 2020
Menino does not know for his goalkeeping, but if all you have seen of him is his scream against Bolivar from September 2020, you would be forgiven for thinking differently.
He picked up the ball from the depths and released a thunderbolt that erupted in the upper corner and set up his side for a 2-1 victory.
Menino scored two more goals on the way to guide Palmeiras to the trophy, but if you do not believe his lack of threats in front of goal, he failed to score in any of his 27 games during the 2020 season.
Menino may not have the highest current ability at FIFA 21, but under the right leadership he can become one of the best midfielders in the game.
At the time of writing, Menino starts at 74 but can grow all the way up to 87.
Menino is incredibly well-rounded in the game and can develop the kind of skill that would make him a real star in literally any position on the field.
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