The January transfer window is hotting up. While it may be difficult for the top clubs around Europe to identify and complete big money moves, it is certainly a month used to increase squad depth and scout promising young talents. One player who fits the latter perfectly, with his name rapidly popping up on the rumour mill is 22-year-old Brazillian midfielder Bruno Guimarães.
Currently plying his trade in the Brazillian top-flight for Athletico Paranaense, he may just be swapping the elegant warmth of South America for the winter chill of London. The player has regularly been linked with the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, as well as Atletico Madrid.
Who is Bruno Guimarães?
Born and raised in the neighbourhood of of São Cristóvão, Rio de Janiero. Bruno Guimarães made his professional debut at Brazilian outfit Audax, in April 2015, aged just 17. Playing the last three minutes in a 2-1 Campeonato Paulista away win against Bragantino.
He was then promoted to first-team 2 years later after impressing in the Copa Sao Paulo de Futbol Junior competition. In May that year, he was then snapped up by his current club Athletico Paranaense on loan until April 2018, initially assigned to the under-23 squad. Guimarães then made his debut in the Brazilian top-flight in the summer of 2017, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 defeat to Athletico Goianiense.
It was in March 2018, that he was signed permanently signing a contract keeping him at the club until 2021. He scored his first goal for the club that same month, and has never looked back, becoming a regular in the side under Tiago Nunes, renewing his contract until to 2023 in February 2019.
He’s made nearly 100 appearances for the club, scoring 7 goals and laying on 5 assists.
Style of play?
Bruno Guimarães can play in a number of positions in the midfield. As a deep-lying number six, or a marauding and energetic number eight. Though, he is regularly deployed as a defensive midfielder for his club, sitting in the base of midfield, breaking up play, sweeping up counter-attacks, and becoming an orchestrator from deep.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBji7P6Cnz4
In the above video, he regularly displays his consummate abilities to distribute the ball, with strong vertical passes and switches of play. The Audax youth product has a fantastic positional awareness and understanding, knowing when to hold his position and when to drift out wide if his defensive duties demands such. It’s his quickness off the ball and with it that allows his side to become so dominant in the middle.
What’s also impressive about Guimarães is his telepathic understanding with his forwards, he knows when to pick them out with his long raking passes over the defence, and the trajectory at which he hits the pass is what makes him so unique. As is with the cause with so many Brazilian midfielders, he has excellent dribbling qualities and ball control which allows him to draw in multiple defenders in which he can easily beat them and thread eye of the needle passes. He performs this trait with such remarkable regularity.
Guimarães’s vision and passing is what sets him apart from the rest. Despite making timely runs into the box, he isn’t blessed with an eye for goal. He doesn’t posses a great shot or heading abilities which limits his influence in the final third. But it’s in the middle third, where his impact truly comes to the fore. He’s an outstanding ball-winner and excellent when breaking the lines of play with simple pass or a mazy run. This is a player with an impressive range of skill-sets.
How would he fit in at Arsenal?
Fast transitional play is vitally important in European football, especially in the Premier League, and Guimarães holds the necessary qualities to perform such a role. It may take him a while to fully get familiar with the rigours of the Premier League, but there is no doubt that the player harnesses the traits and qualities that Arteta requires.
Arsenal in recent years have often lacked a powerful presence in midfield, someone who can make a cynical foul when necessary, or one who can break up play with relative ease. It’s clear Arteta needs an authoritative figure in the middle.
Lucas Torreira and Xhaka have enjoyed a renaissance under Arteta, but their immediate future at the Emirates is unclear. Alternative options may be needed. The Brazilian under-23 player certainly holds the defensive nous to make it in a top European League. He can truly command a midfield from the holding role.
The Brazilian may however struggle with the increased speed of the Premier League. Especially with his somewhat languid style of play on the ball. A move to Spain might be more ideal, at least initially, than making the jump to England.
However, Arsenal wouldn’t be scouting the player extensively if they didn’t believe he had the qualities to become a success in the Premier League. He is a player that is obviously liked by Mikel Arteta and exposure to Premier League football could provide him with the opportunity to finally make his name for the Brazilian national side too.
This is a player with a huge future. Arsenal would do well to get a taste of his qualities.
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