Lucas Paquetá

Brazil might have crashed out at the quarter final stage of Russia 2018 but the future still looks good for the Seleção. Reports suggest that Tite is going to sign a new deal and there is a talented generation of young players coming through to challenge and strengthen an already star-studded squad.

Of this promising batch of prospects, Vinicius Junior may well have received the most hype but his former Flamengo teammate Lucas Paquetá is arguably just as exciting, with Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City just a few of the clubs interested in triggering his €50mil release clause.

Named after Ilha da Paquetá  the small idyllic island in the Guanabara Bay where he hails from  the classy playmaker has been on the books of Flamengo in nearby Rio de Janeiro since the age of eight.

Paquetá began to make waves at the 2016 Copinha and then was called up for the Brazil squad for the 2017 U20 Sudamericano. Despite having a talented team including the likes of Richarlison, David Neres and Guilherme Arana, Brazil failed to qualify for the U20 World Cup in South Korea with Paqueta only able to show flashes of his talent

Despite this disappointment at international level, back at Flamengo the arrival of Reinaldo Rueda, the suspension of Paolo Guerrero and injuries to other forwards saw Paquetá tasked with playing a false nine role for the Rio giants. He ended up with 17 league appearances in the 2017 Brasileirao and also scored goals in the final of the Copa Brasil and Copa Sudamericana. Although Flamengo lost both finals, Paquetá had properly announced himself.

Initially seen as more of a number 10, Paquetá has morphed into more of an all-round attacking midfielder and has been one of the revelations of this year’s Brasileirao. At the time of writing, he has 3 goals and 1 assist in 10 games as Flamengo sit top of the table, as well as having helped the Rubro-Negro progress to the knock out stage of the Copa Libertadores for the first time since 2010.

The youngest player on Tite’s provisional 35-man squad and chased by a bevvy of Europe’s elite, just what makes Paquetá such a special talent?

SKILLS

Blessed with poise, technique and a dazzling array of skills, Paquetá evokes memories of Brazilian playmakers from a bygone era. His fancy footwork and flair can thoroughly embarrass defenders in one-on-one situations but, having said that, he is far from a highlight reel show pony.

With such creativity, quick feet and pace, Paqueta is an excellent dribbler, averaging 2.2 per game this season, and a real threat when given space to exploit.

He is also more than happy to slow things down, stand his man up, try a stepover or elastico, before using his acceleration to burst past defenders or win a foul.