UOL has recently reported that Manchester City are keeping tabs on the progress of Palmeiras midfielder Patrick de Paula. It is believed that Man City sent scouts to catch the Brazilian youngster in action during the Copa Libertadores final last weekend (translated by Birmingham Mail).
De Paula’s Recent Emergence In South American Football
De Paula managed to help Palmeiras win the Libertadores after they secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Santos on Sunday. The 21-year-old has been a regular feature in the Brazilian Serie A this season and has done well to score three goals and earn one assist in 26 matches for his current club this term across all competitions.
The Brazilian prospect has chipped in with some important contributions at both ends of the field as he is averaging 1.3 tackles, 1.1 interceptions, 0.7 clearances, 1.7 shots and 0.6 key passes per game in the Brasileirao. He has even been tidy with his ball-distribution based on his pass success rate of 85% in league football (stats via whoscored).
De Paula is maturing into one of the brightest young midfielders in Brazilian football, so it would be a massive coup for Man City if they can lure the talented youngster to the Etihad Stadium in the future.
What Does The Brazilian Sensation Bring To The Table?
De Paula is taking a lot of responsibility at the heart of the Palmeiras midfield. He has shown good defensive awareness to make some important clearances at the back. The Brazilian whizkid is also not shy of having a long-range shot and has performed well to add a few goals to his game this season. De Paula is a moderately paced player who can be quite aggressive with his tackles and has the hunger to chase the opposition down at the centre of the park. However, he is still quite raw and would require more time to mature into a top talent at the highest level.
Is De Paula The Right Choice For Man City?
Recruiting a player of De Paula’s potential will be a good move for Pep Guardiola’s side in the long-run. He is good enough to play as an ideal understudy to Rodri and Ilkay Gundogan. The Brazilian talent can also serve as a perfect long-term replacement for Fernandinho, whose contract at the Etihad Stadium runs out at the end of this campaign.
At 21, De Paula is a player on the rise and could potentially become a world-class holding midfielder someday. With all things considered, the Rio de Janeiro-born youngster will be a decent choice for the Mancunian giants as he will add long-term value to Guardiola’s match-day squad.
