After the recent signings of Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo from Palmeiras, adding to that of loan capture Renan Lodi from Atletico Madrid in August, Santos’ 18-year-old Angelo Gabriel is the latest Brazilian linked with a move to the City Ground.
So, who is he and what can he bring to Forest?
The left footed winger plies his trade on the right for Santos, capable of using his pace to cut inside onto his favoured left foot.
However, the youngster certainly isn’t limited to that, capable of running the channel, trusting his right foot to often square balls into the box.
These qualities have made his game unpredictable to opponents, as well as getting fans off their seats.
One of his key assets is receiving the ball with his back to goal, holding off defenders, before wrong footing them and using his pace to leave them in his wake.
This is a quality Forest fans have seen a certain Morgan Gibbs-White successfully pull off plenty of times this season.
What would have caught the eye from those scouting him is his ability to dribble with pace yet keeping the ball firmly under control.
Keeping the ball on a virtual string is a defenders worst nightmare, and this is a natural part of Angelos’ game.
Dare I draw the comparison, but there’s similarities to Arjen Robben’s style in there.
Perhaps it’s the confidence he plays with, or the class he shows, but there’s a reason why Forest are looking to spend big on him.
The winger possesses the skill and flair expected of a Brazilian star in the making, but it’s his unselfishness which makes him a team player.
He can certainly pick a key pass when others can’t see anything on; a crucial element which fits into Forest’s current style of counter attacking play.
He’s picked up eight assists for Santos to date, and having often been substituted or come on from the bench, as he continues learns his trade, we shouldn’t be spinning these statistics into a negative.
Which leads me on to his lack of goals. It’s an area in which Angelo must improve. Yet Angelo’s main role is to provide for his team, and it’s one he’s very good at.
The goals may well come under the right leadership…
It’s worth pointing out Santos finished 12th in Serie A last season, yet Angelo was able to prove his worth in a side which hasn’t pulled up any trees of late.
With his contract ending in December 2024, Santos may look to cash in while they can, and the rumoured amount on the table could be too good to turn down.
*Article provided by Nathan Joyes (Nottingham Forest Correspondent).
*Main image @SPORT last season Angelo was linked with a €35m move to Barcelona.
