Brazilian Sensation – A Scout Report Of The Young Midfielder On Manchester United’s Radar

Jose Mourinho was one of the busiest managers in the last couple of transfer windows as he has been trying hard to improve the current squad at the Old Trafford and try to make them compete at the highest level next season. The manager has been linked to some star players recently but he is also looking into youngsters who could come good in the future. One such player who is now on the radar of the Old Trafford outfit is Brazil star Malcom. The 19-year old has been linked with Manchester United for some time now and he has recently revealed that he is ready for the next step. So who is this new name doing the rounds? What will he add to Manchester United and the Premier League? Here is a mini scout report of the player that United are interested in:

Background:

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Malcom Filipe Silva de Oliveira is regarded as one of the most exciting youngsters in Brazil at the moment. He started his career as a teenager at Corinthians, one of the most prestigious academies in Brazil. He was pulled into the senior side in 2014 and the 19-year old went on to make 57 appearances in the domestic league, scoring 7 goals. He earned himself a call up from French side Bordeaux in January last year and has already made 36 Ligue1 appearances, scoring 5 goals. He is also a part of the Brazil U23 squad and is not too far away from an international call-up and is surely a star in the making.

Style of Play/ Strengths and Weaknesses:

An attacking midfielder, who is also comfortable playing on the right side of the midfield, Malcolm is a player who loves to have the ball at his feet. He is a technically gifted player, like most stars from his country and has all the skills in the world. He loves to play short passes with teammates in close quarters and is a player who loves to combine with his teammates in dangerous areas. A specialist in dead ball situations, Malcom is known for his long-range efforts which are often on target as he likes to keep the opponents on their feet.

Playing just in behind the striker, Malcom loves to thread balls in behind the defense and loves runners beyond the ball. He is not the strongest in the air nor does he like the physical part of the game but he is more than capable of holding on to the ball in dangerous areas, to find his teammates in space. His key pass contribution is what makes him a dangerous player. Add to it his finishing, Malcom is a star that can come good in years to come.

The Future:

At 19, Malcom has his whole career ahead of him, and getting regular game time in France is allowing him to develop into a better player. He is a decent option for the Red Devils but at his age, he needs as much time on the field as he can get and with Mourinho not sure to provide it, he is better off playing for Bordeaux for another season or two.