Chelsea also interested in Palmeiras and Brazil budding star Gabriel Menino — report

There’s a (future) star born every day in football, and seemingly every minute in some places, like Brazil for example. One of the latest in that long tradition is Palmeiras midfielder Gabriel Menino, who’s been strongly linked with Atlético Madrid, but according to UOL Esporte, many others, including Chelsea are interested.

Gabriel himself certainly wouldn’t mind any of those options, or any big-club option, really.

“I think my football today fits in Atletico Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Liverpool, maybe even Manchester City. They are all teams with very strong players, with a quick touch of the ball, they like to attack and defend as a group.”

-Gabriel Menino; source: A Bola via UOL

No shortage of confidence from the 20-year-old!

Menino has made 59 senior appearances already, including two at the most recent Club World Cup, and has been deployed in a wide variety of midfield positions, and even at right back. He had earned his maiden senior international call-up in September, though he’s yet to get his first senior cap. He’s modeled his game on Yaya Touré, but apparently now wants to make a name for himself as the successor to Dani Alves, marauding up and down the right flank.

Atlético are said to value Menino at around €15-20m, which they could afford if they collect big fees for players such as Thomas Lemar or the Bayern-linked Saúl Ñíguez. But clearly that fee could be driven higher if Gabriel or Palmeiras can get other teams involved. His official release clause is reporedly €50m.

There’s unlikely to be anything actually substantial behind Chelsea’s “interest”, though we do have a history of (and thus the connections for) plucking promising talent straight outta Brazil.