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Expert analysis
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The January transfer window is open and rumours are circulating left, right and centre. Unearthing the stars of the future is a priority matter for all the biggest clubs in the world and Manchester City have been incredibly busy as they look to rectify their poor form this season. After completing a deal for Abdukodir Khusanov on Monday, City have announced the signing of Vitor Reis from Palmeiras for €35 million.
“This is a dream come true, since I was a young kid I’ve always dreamt with an opportunity just like this one and play for a club as big as City,” said Reis. “The magnitude of Manchester City, its history and its structure. When the door knocked and it was Manchester City, I knew there wasn’t anywhere else to go.” The South American market continues to attract scouts from clubs across the globe on a regular basis, looking to find the next Vinicius Junior or Lionel Messi. Brazil is arguably the biggest hotbed of talent in world football right now and City have secured one of the best emerging talents in Reis. But who is the young centre-back? We’ve provided the lowdown on Reis with incredible insight from our Brazilian experts at Transfermarkt.
Who is Vitor Reis?
Reis is an 18-year-old defender, who made his breakthrough at Palmeiras. The club has produced some of the best homegrown talent recently, with Endrick officially joining Real Madrid last summer, Luis Guilherme moving to West Ham, and Chelsea having secured the signature of protege Estêvão for next summer. Reis is naturally a centre-back but he can also be deployed at right-back, and he made 22 first-team appearances for Palmeiras in Série A last season.
The São Paulo native is widely viewed as one of the best young defensive talents in South America – as explained by Transfermarkt’s Brazil’s Area Manager Marcos Watts. “Vitor Reis is the ‘newest’ defensive talent coming from the Brazilian Série A. He seems to be following the footsteps of Murillo and [Lucas] Beraldo after playing for one of the “big four” clubs from the São Paulo state and quickly emerging as a top talent – a move to a top European side seems like a matter of time now. However, Reis is a different kind of player when compared to Murillo or Beraldo. He’s taller than both and right footed – but that doesn’t make him a “more common” player given his capabilities on and off the ball.”
Watts added: “Despite not being a very physical player, he’s very good in the air and has shown great awareness for an 18 year old. He’s also very good on the ball, both for setting up the play from the back and for attacking – which has already resulted in two goals so early in his career. Another good mental attribute he’s already shown is his decision making – he knows where the spaces are and knows when to move forward or when to make a tackle, something that is quite remarkable for a player so young.”
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Vitor Reis |
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