Andrey Fernandes shines for Vasco youth, touted as next Rayan | OneFootball

A new jewel is being forged in the Cauldron of São Januário. Andrey Fernandes started the Brazilian Under-20 Championship with impressive numbers. The forward scored three goals in the first three rounds of the national competition. His individual performance propelled Vasco to the top of the tournament with nine points and a 100% success rate. The athlete scored goals in the classic match against Flamengo and also against São Paulo, at the Nivaldo Pereira stadium, located in Austin.

The goal-scoring streak raises the debate about the player's use in the main team. The recent sale of Rayan to Bournemouth, a team competing in the Premier League, has opened a gap for young offensive talents in the professional squad. The rapid rise of the youth team's top scorer makes him the main candidate to take on this role as a promising talent to be developed in the senior team.

+ Ex-Vasco, Rayan receives the status of the most feared striker in England

Who is Andrey Fernandes?

Born in Recife, Andrey Fernandes de Oliveira Nunes is 18 years old and arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, at the age of eight. His sports career began in futsal and field soccer with the rival rubro-negro, before transferring to São Januário. The talent he showed in the lower categories earned him frequent call-ups to the Brazilian Under-17 National Team, including participation in friendly matches preparing for the category's World Cup. The club signed the first professional contract with the jewel in July last year.

The young player's tactical profile catches analysts' attention. Standing at 1.77m tall, he plays in various roles in the offensive sector. The athlete plays as a center forward, second striker, or on the wings. His versatility is accompanied by good physical capacity, explosive speed over short distances, and quality finishing. His presence in the area and pivot work are also notable characteristics of his playing style. He also finishes easily with both feet. The forward has a knack for mapping space behind the defense, and this constant movement breaks the opponent's lines and creates clear goal-scoring opportunities.

Andrey Fernandes scores Vasco's third goal in the rout against Flamengo – Photo: João Gabriel Alves / Vasco da Gama

Does Vasco have a new jewel on the way?

The current edition of the junior championship serves as a definitive showcase. Under the command of coach Matheus Curopos, the cruzmaltino team displays offensive football and dominates opponents in ball possession. The 4-1 victory over the Carioca rival at the Luso-Brasileiro stadium and the 2-0 win against the Paulistas highlight the lethal phase of the attack system. The number 7 actively participated in the play constructions and ensured crucial goals to maintain the top of the table. Thus, he demonstrates above-average maturity for his age during high-pressure matches.

The main team's schedule offers an ideal window for tests. The group led by the current coaching staff has no official matches until March 12, the date of the match against Palmeiras. This period without games allows for the observation of the youngster in integrated training at CT Moacyr Barbosa. The transition can occur gradually, ensuring the necessary adaptation to the professional level of Serie A.

However, this is a decision that now rests with Vasco's new coach, Renato Gaúcho.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.