Gunners locked in fierce battle for Brazilian wonderkid as European giants circle

By Lewis Barnett 3 May, 2025 6 mins read 75 Views

Oh God. Another day, another teenage Brazilian sensation. My WhatsApp group with fellow Arsenal supporters literally exploded last night when news broke about this Luighi kid. "We CANNOT miss out on this one!" texted my mate Dave at 3:42am. Poor guy probably hasn't slept properly since our Champions League exit.

The battle for this Palmeiras gem is heating up, and I'm getting that familiar knot in my stomach. Inter Milan and Dortmund have suddenly appeared on teh scene like vultures, right after the kid extended his contract with Palmeiras until 2029. Typical timing.

£70 million?! Are they having a laugh?

That release clause is absolutely bonkers. Over £70 million for a teenager who isn't even a regular starter at Palmeiras yet? I remember back in 2018 when anything over £30m for a South American prospect would've seemed insane.

But here's the thing...

European clubs have managed to negotiate much lower fees with Palmeiras before. Look at Chelsea-bound Estevao - had a £60m clause but the Blues somehow worked their magic and got him for £28m. That's less than half! My editor bet me $20 that Arsenal would end up paying somewhere around £35-40m if they really want this kid. I took that bet immediately. Edu usually overpays.

Why this kid might actually be worth the hype

I watched some highlights from the Under-17 World Cup where he first caught Arsenal's attention. Listen. This kid has something special about him. The way he glides past defenders reminds me of watching Matheus Cunha at Wolves, but with a sharper eye for goal.

He's only 19, but already starred in Palmeiras' run to the Under-20 Copa Libertadores final. His close control in tight spaces is ridiculous. One Brazilian scout I spoke with (who begged to remain anonymous) described him as having "the spatial awareness of a cat burglar." Whatever that means.

The Palmeiras talent factory strikes again

I feel stupid now for not paying closer attention to Palmeiras' youth setup years ago. They've become Brazil's premier talent factory. Estevao, Luiz Guilherme (now at West Ham), Vitor Reis (Man City), and our own Gabriel Jesus all came through their ranks.

Joao Freire of Nosso Palmeiras wasn't exaggerating when he said Luighi has "an eye for goal and an ability to create space where none seems to exist." That's not just typical agent-speak - I've seen it myself in the few clips available online.

The competition for his signature is getting fierce. Inter Milan apparently got tipped off by an Italian agent based in Brazil last year. His response: "already updating my resume." He knew he'd struck gold.

The Chelsea blueprint (ugh, I hate saying that)

Arsenal would be smart to follow what Chelsea and Real Madrid have done with Brazilian wonderkids. Chelsea are welcoming Estevao this summer, which ironically might be what gives Luighi the first-team minutes he needs to qualify for a UK work permit.

Real Madrid (still hurts to mention them after our Champions League exit) successfully scouted Endrick from the same Palmeiras setup in 2022.

I spent $4K on a trip to Brazil in January hoping to catch a glimpse of some of these talents in person. Ended up with food poisoning and missed the only match I had tickets for. Like a ghost at a family reunion - present but completely useless.

What happens next?

Dortmund are circling like sharks, apparently eyeing Luighi as a potential replacement for Premier League-linked Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.

The kid's athleticism, fluid movement and close control make him perfectly suited for European football. But will he end up at the Emirates?

I've got a feeling this saga will drag on all summer. And if we miss out on him, I'll never hear the end of it from Dave.

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How To

How To Become a Football Expert Defender

It takes a lot of practice to become an expert defensive player. You need to understand tactical positioning and be able read the game well. Practise your one-on-one defense by doing tackling and jockeying drills. You can improve your aerial skills by doing heading exercises, and by learning to judge how the ball will fly. To maintain an organized defense, improve communication with your teammates. Learn from professional defenders about their defensive styles and how to apply them to your own game.