Brazil producing prodigy footballers is a tale as old as football. In recent times, the Land of Samba has produced players like Real Madrid-bound Endrick Felipe and Atletico Paranaense’s forward Vitor Roque, to name a few. And the newest name to join the list is Lorran Lucas Pereira de Sousa. Manchester United and Chelsea are currently chasing the 17-year-old who plies his trade for Brazilian club Flamengo.
This is a massive achievement for a player who has yet to make his debut in the Brazilian league. Lorran has always been touted as one of the finest players ever since he was signed from Madureira Esporte Clube.
Lorran’s rise comes at a time when young Brazilian players are currently excelling in the top European leagues. This has generated a new interest among the clubs across the Atlantic, who are now rushing to sign these prodigies before their value explodes on the transfer market.
It explains the reason why so many clubs are chasing the Brazilian despite him having so little exposure to top-level football. So, who is Lorran, and how good is he?
Lorran profile
Born on July 4, 2006, in Rio de Janeiro, Lorran exhibited a talent for football from a young age, much like millions of his fellow countrymen. After playing for various local clubs in the city, Lorran joined the youth academy of Madureira Esporte Clube. Playing at the club, he excelled in various youth tournaments.
His rise then caught the attention of scouts from Flamengo, and soon, the youngster found himself in one of the best football environments in the country. Playing against some of the best footballers helped his game to rise and earned him a call-up to Brazil under 16 squad, where he made three appearances.
However, he only started to make his mark in the 2022-23 season. The teenager made 13 appearances across various tournaments and youth teams. He played five games for the under-20 squad in the Campeonato Brasileiro, scoring two goals helping Flamengo win the title.
He also played two games in Copinha, scoring two goals, and four games in the Carioca – Taça Guanabara, where he scored one goal. His most significant moments, though, came in the 2023 under-17 South American Championship. Lorran played an integral part in the team, which won their 13th title. His best moment in the tournament came when he provided an assist that helped Brazil equalise the game against Ecuador. This one point proved pivotal as Brazil ultimately finished only two points above Ecuador to win the tournament.
Lorran style of play
A significant reason why Lorran shot to fame in his country was his dribbling skills. Now Brazil has a number of talented dribblers, but Lorran backed his skill with brilliant vision. The teenager isn’t afraid to move the ball forward, no matter the circumstances. And he is highly successful at it. He usually wins a free kick even when he does not dribble past the opponent.
Lorran also only uses his dribbling when he is near the opponent, as he does not want to slow the team’s play. The youngster also can play all across the front line like a modern winger. Since he is left-footed, he plays as a traditional winger on the left and an inverted winger on the right. But his favourite position is the attacking midfielder, which allows him to be at his creative best.
Lorran has also added goals to his game, making him more desirable to the clubs looking to sign him.
Lorran potential
Lorran has proved at such a young age that he does exhibit the qualities required to become the next star to come out of Brazil. One of the examples of his high potential is his agency, Roc Nation Sports Brazil, which represents stars such as Vinicius Jr., Lucas Paqueta, Gabriel Martinelli, and Endrick Felipe.
Flamengo also recognised his talent early on and signed him on a contract that has a release clause of €50 million. This, however, has not deterred Chelsea and Manchester United, who are currently the frontrunners to sign the Brazilian.
Despite the talent, Lorran is far from a finished product and will need at least two seasons of top-level football before he can make the big move. He could sign a deal like Endrick did, which keeps him Flamengo for two years before he joins a bigger club.
Whatever his future trajectory might be, it looks like Lorran is destined to make it to the biggest stage.