Ian Luccas, Cruzeiro’s versatile midfielder, shining for Athletic and wanted by Santos | OneFootball

Ian Luccas has emerged as Athletic’s standout in Série B, driving seven of the club’s last eight goals and attracting admiring glances in the market.

According to Globo.com, the 22-year-old is owned by Cruzeiro, Athletic want to buy him outright, and the Minas club have discussed a possible future sale with Santos.

Under Alex de Souza, the holding midfielder has been redeployed as a number eight, a number 10 and even a false nine. He has covered every midfield berth, central, left and right.

Most recently he contributed in the 1-0 win over Fortaleza in São João del Rei on 30 May. Before that he struck twice in the 3-2 defeat to Internacional that ended the club’s Copa do Brasil run. He also laid on goals for Max and Diogo Batista against Botafogo-SP, and combined with Max before Dixon Vera scored against Juventude.

Discipline has bitten too. He received a straight red in the first half against América-MG in the third round with Athletic 1-0 up, and the game finished level. He was dismissed again in the seventh round at Vila Nova-GO for an elbow, that match ending 1-1 in Goiânia.

Born in Ribeirão Preto and developed at Ferroviária from 2019 to 2022, he joined Cruzeiro on loan, played one Copa do Brasil tie and five Campeonato Mineiro games in 2024, then signed permanently in July last year. Loans followed to Goiás and back to Ferroviária in 2025, where he made 33 appearances with two goals and two assists. For Athletic he has 21 matches, five goals and three assists.

With striker Ronaldo Tavares out for the season, Alex has trialled Samuel Otusanya and Gabriel Moysés up front, underlining Ian’s value. Athletic, in only their second consecutive Série B campaign, are 11th, two points off the top six and eight above the drop.

Source: Globo.com