10 Up-and-Coming Brazilian Players Ready for a Transfer to Europe
Brazil is the most successful nation in international football. Brazilians, not surprisingly, are therefore often the most sought-after players in the club transfer market.
This winter should be no exception. Clubs from around the world figure to be busy buying and selling players in January, and already dozens of Brazilians are being tipped for a move to Europe.
Which ones? Read on to find out.
Paulinho
1 of 10Club: Corinthians
Age: 24
Paulinho, a defensive midfielder with eight senior caps for Brazil, has been linked with big-spending Chelsea. talkSPORT reports that new Blues manager Rafa Benitez wants to make the Corinthians man his first signing.
Inter Milan are also thought to be interested.
Leandro Damiao
2 of 10Club: Internacional
Age: 23
Leandro Damiao finished as top scorer at the 2012 Summer Olympics, scoring six goals during Brazil's run to the silver medal.
His name was already in the European rumor mill before that, but Leandro's Olympic performance has sent his stock even higher. Lately, his list of potential destinations is thought to include Chelsea (via The Sun), Liverpool, Tottenham (per FourFourTwo) and Real Madrid (via Goal.com).
Wallace
3 of 10Club: Fluminense
Age: 18
ESPN.co.uk reported recently that Chelsea are "almost certain" to sign full-back Wallace from Fluminense.
Wallace, 18, has been linked with Chelsea for some time, and the London club are reported to own a 40 percent stake in the player already.
Wallace has represented Brazil at the Under-17 level.
Rafael Cabral
4 of 10Club: Santos
Age: 22
Rafael Cabral has been linked with a winter move to AC Milan since the summer.
In July, RossoneriBlog cited a Sky Sport 24 report that said Cabral and Milan were already in negotiations for a January transfer.
Cabral has earned two caps for the senior Brazil team.
Dede
5 of 10Club: Vasco da Gama
Age: 24
Dede, a 24-year-old defender, signed a new contract this summer that would keep him at Vasco da Gama until 2015 (via Goal.com). If he chooses to leave before then, he should have plenty of suitors.
Reportedly among the interested parties are Manchester United, Benfica (via Daily Mail), Arsenal and Juventus (via Goal.com).
Wellington Nem
6 of 10Club: Fluminense
Age: 20
Wellington Nem made his senior debut with Brazil in 2012 after impressing with Fluminense and Figueirense (on loan) in 2011.
Since then, the diminutive attacking midfielder has been linked with Arsenal (via Fox Sports, h/t Sambafoot) and Tottenham Hotspur (via Daily Mail).
Casemiro
7 of 10Club: Sao Paulo
Age: 20
Casemiro, a central midfielder, debuted for Brazil's senior squad in 2011 after representing his country at the Under-17 and -20 levels.
Like Wellington Nem, Casemiro has been linked with both North London clubs. The Daily Mail reported in December 2011 that Arsenal would have to pay Sao Paulo £10 million for his services. talkSPORT linked him with Tottenham in October of the same year.
Ganso
8 of 10Club: Sao Paulo
Age: 23
Tottenham were linked with a move for Brazilian attacking midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso in September (via Daily Mail), shortly before he was transferred from Santos to Sao Paulo.
A full Brazilian international with eight caps, Ganso could yet move to Europe in the future.
Lucas Moura
9 of 10Club: Sao Paulo
Age: 20
This one almost doesn't count. Lucas Moura has already agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain in January. But it's hard to imagine a Brazilian player being more ready to play in Europe than Lucas.
The big-spending French club shelled out a reported £35 million for the attacking midfielder, who turned 20 in August (via Yahoo! Sport).
In November, Goal.com quoted Lucas as saying he was anxious about the upcoming move.
Neymar
10 of 10Club: Santos
Age: 20
At times, it's hard to believe Neymar is still just 20 years old. The mohawked Brazilian starlet has been in the rumor mill for what seems like ages, and he has already won a FIFA Puskas Award (and is shortlisted for another).
The rumors have flown fast over the past few years, with big spenders like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester City all thought to be interested. Recently, Goal.com quoted Neymar as saying his dream is to play in Europe.
