After the signing of Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal. The West London club have also completed the signing of Ângelo Gabriel from Santos.
Obviously, Chelsea continues to invest massively in their future. They now have many brilliant and talented youngsters at the club.
Despite the fact that there’s no European competition for the Blues next season. They are ready to boost the squad for Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea signed Ângelo Gabriel from Santos for a fee of €15 million. And he will pen a 6-year contract with the West London club, committing his long-term loyalty.
Incredibly, Barcelona have a clause to sign the 18-year-old Brazilian in the next 48 hours. However, it’s confirmed that they are very unlikely to trigger the clause.
As a result, Ângelo is the latest Chelsea new player in this summer transfer window. Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are doing a marvelous job at the club.
According to 90min, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Nottingham Forest showed interest in the Brazilian youngster. But the Blues comfortably leapfrogged them.
The 18-year-old Brazilian already underwent his medical on Wednesday. With that being said, he will soon be unveiled as the Blues new signing.
Gabriel will start the preseason at Chelsea Under Mauricio Pochettino. However, he’s most likely to head out on loan, gaining more experience in Europe’s top-5 leagues.
The Brazilian youngster is most likely to join Strasbourg on loan. Of course, the West London club recently purchased the Ligue 1 side, becoming a multi-clubs.
After the signing of Andrey Santos and Kendry Páez. The Premier League side continues to attract South American players, as Ângelo joins the Blues family.
Speaking of the 2021-2022 season, Ângelo Gabriel was among the youngest players to feature in the Campeonato Brasileiro. Of course, he has a bright future.
The 18-year-old Brazilian is up there with Victor Roque, making headlines in the Campeonato Brasileiro. As a result, it’s believed that he will establish himself at Chelsea.
Obviously, Neymar was a product of Santos. And the Brazilian is one of the top players in Europe’s top-5 leagues. Gabriel may be the next raw talent from Santos.
The Athletic confirmed that Gabriel has a release clause of €60 million in his contract. However, the Blues managed to get his signature for a fee of €15 million.
Are there any Chelsea youngsters similar to Ângelo?
Amazingly, the West London club have many players with similar profiles to the 18-year-old. Nevertheless, the club continues to invest in their future.
- Kendry Páez
- Diego Moreira
- Omari Hutchinson
- Dujuan Whisper Richards
- Noni Madueke
Ângelo has a similar profile to the above named players, like they play the same position. Therefore, it’s unwise for the Blues to keep pulling up players with the same profile.
However, Kendry Páez can comfortably play as an attacking midfielder. Also, Diego Moreira and Omari Hutchinson can play as left and right attackers, respectively.
Dujuan Whisper Richards is more of a striker. Even though he likes to attack from the flanks. Of course, Noni Madueke has already made it to the first-team.
Gabriel will face a lot of competition at Chelsea. Nevertheless, he’s expected to fight for his place in the squad, if he wants to play regularly.
Ângelo stats in Brazil Serie A (per 90 minutes)
0.39 assists
11.09 dribbles
1.97 through balls
1.18 key passes
1.57 smart passes
7.55 progressive runs
196.5cm ball progression by runs
Who is Ângelo Gabriel?
Surprisingly, his full name is Ângelo Gabriel Borges Damaceno, as he was born in 2004 (18-year-old).
Gabriel is one of Santos’ academy products. He joined the Brazilian side at the age of 10, which was in 2015. However, he was promoted to the first squad in 2020.
At the age of 15, the Brazil international made his senior debut for Santos. As a result, he became the second-youngest ever player to debut for the club, breaking Pelé’s record.
Ângelo scored his first professional goal at the age of 16. And he became the youngest player ever to score in a Libertadores match, smashing Juan Carlos Cárdenas record.
It’s confirmed that Gabriel is the best dribbler the Brazilian leagues have seen since Neymar’s departure. Of course, he’s a Brazilian, coming from Santos.
Ângelo Gabriel strengths and weaknesses
Despite being just 18-year-old, the Brazilian youngster is endowed with many qualities. That’s why he’s considered to make headlines in Europe’s top-5 leagues like Neymar.
Ângelo’s biggest strength is dribbling. Of course, as an attacker, he’s a dangerous dribbler, who can cause havoc inside the opponent’s box.
The Brazil international has already registered more than 250 dribbles in his professional career (266). In all fairness, that’s very impressive.
Also, Gabriel has registered more dribbles (28) than any player in Brazil Serie A this season. Meanwhile, he started just 5 games in the league, playing 542 minutes.
Profile-wise, Ângelo is very similar to Ousmane Dembélé and Raphinha. As a result, he also has pace and acceleration as his strengths.
The 18-year-old Brazilian is always unstoppable on counterattacks. Because he has the space to put his running ability into action, causing havoc.
Having been from Santos, Brazil. Gabriel has ball control and techniques as his attributes. Regardless of his age, his ball control is on a different level.
Ângelo can successfully control the ball with any part of his body, except his hands. He has that in common with Ronaldinho and Neymar, always happy to get the ball.
Brazil players are always technical, regardless of their positions on the pitch. Frankly, the Brazilian youngster has many things to offer the West London club.
Another biggest strength is creativity. Ângelo makes key passes for fun on the pitch. Of course, he usually relies on his dribbling prowess to make it possible.
Speaking of creativity, the player creates chances and spaces with ease. Also, he has good vision to locate his teammates with unbelievable passes.
Gabriel isn’t really Hakim Ziyech’s type of left footer. Nevertheless, he’s very creative, always connects with his teammates, looking for free space to create chances.
Ângelo is very versatile, because he can play diverse roles in attack. As a result, he’s expected to face less competition during the pre-season under Mauricio Pochettino.
Apparently, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali usually sign versatile players. Because they give the squad enough depth when facing a lot of injuries.
Chelsea obviously signed Christopher Nkunku because of his ability to play several roles. Amazingly, Gabriel can also handle different positions up front.
In addition to his dribbling prowess. The 18-year-old Brazilian is great in 1v1 situations on the pitch. He loves to take on opponents players without fidgeting.
Just like Antony of Manchester United. The Brazilian youngster has flair as one of his strengths. He’s fond of showing off his skills on the pitch.
Ângelo loves to entertain the fans with his flicks and flairs. Of course, the Blues haven’t had his type of player since Eden Hazard’s departure.
Weaknesses
Regardless of Gabriel’s attributes, he has his own limitations. Nevertheless, he has enough room for improvement, particularly if he joins Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
First off, the 18-year-old is very poor defensively. He lacks a lot of defensive notions and doesn’t really add anything to the team’s defensive display.
Even though Ângelo has a high level of vision, he makes unbelievable passes. He’s kind of awful at making long passes, usually makes short passes.
Centre and long passes are part of Gabriel’s weaknesses, because they are always inaccurate. However, he can learn many things under the Argentine manager.
Ângelo’s decision in the final third is very ridiculous. He’s always Ineffective in the final third, even though he has the ability to dribble past 2/3 players.
Speaking of the final third, he can improve under Mauricio Pochettino. Gabriel can learn a lot during his possible loan spell at Strasbourg in the French league.
Furthermore, Ângelo is very bad in aerial duels. Perhaps because of his height, he doesn’t have the physicality to battle for the ball in the air.
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What is Ângelo’s position?
The 18-year-old Brazilian naturally plays as a left winger. As a result, he can attack like Noni Madueke, Hakim Ziyech, and Callum Hudson-Odoi.
However, his versatility allows him to play as an attacking midfielder and a second striker. Which means he plays more than one position on the pitch.
Despite the fact that Ângelo can play as an AM and a SS. His natural position is from the left flank, always at his best attacking from the left wing.
Also, Gabriel’s right foot isn’t that useless. Because he can equally play on both flanks, putting his 1v1 dribbling ability into action against the opposition.
Ângelo Gabriel style of play
Regardless of his age, Ângelo likes to dribble. Just like Noni Madueke, he loves to single-handedly take on an opponent’s players, maneuvering around their territory.
The Brazilian youngster likes to play in a free attacking role. So as to have the freedom to roam the pitch and find space, because he likes to create chances.
Also, Gabriel loves to attack directly. As a result, he runs straight at defenders with pace and acceleration. The 18-year-old attacker is a joy to watch.
Of course, he’s a winger. Therefore, the player uses his skills to take down defenders. Cutting inside the opponent’s box, and creating himself and his teammates.
Speaking of Ângelo’s style of play. He doesn’t always use his weaker right foot. Also, he always runs into the penalty area inside the opponent’s box.
As a result, his pace and acceleration. The Brazilian youngster is very dangerous in counterattacks, which makes him unstoppable against the opposition.
Just like Neymar, Gabriel is enamored with changing his body movements. Therefore, it makes it difficult for the opponents to read his next movement with the ball.
Like I said earlier, the 18-year-old Brazilian is flawless in 1v1 situations. He usually leans on his dribbling prowess, having had more than 5.0 take-ons per 90 minutes.
At the same time, Ângelo loves to entertain the fans in the stadium. His dribbling skills make everything easy for him, particularly when running into the penalty area.
Talking about his style of play. He’s a combination of Neymar and Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal. He relies solely on his dribbling ability.
Gabriel likes to link-up play with his teammates. However, that’s only possible when he attacks from the middle, particularly when playing as an attacking midfielder.
Also, the 18-year-old loves to wait before his next movement with the ball. As a result, he doesn’t make it easy for defenders to get the ball from him, making himself unstoppable.