Corinthians youngster catches Fernando Diniz's eye, may get minutes | OneFootball

Corinthians may soon gain a new option for the midfield. Luiz Gustavo Bahia, a defensive midfielder from the club’s under-20 team, has been catching Fernando Diniz’s attention and is now being monitored more closely by the first-team coach.

The coaching staff was considering using the youngster in last Sunday’s (13) match against Flamengo. However, those plans were halted after Bahia suffered a fracture in one of his fingers on Friday (11), according to information released by Itatiaia.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

The player’s performances for the under-20 side and his displays in training with the senior squad pleased Diniz. In his final year of development, Bahia offers different options for the position, as he can play as a holding midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, and also in a more advanced role as an attacking midfielder.

In the match against Flamengo, Diniz took the opportunity to give some younger players a chance. Iago Machado, Dieguinho, and Gui Negão got minutes during the game, and Bahia also had a chance of being part of that group before the injury.

His connection with the first-team squad is not recent. Under Fernando Diniz, the midfielder was called up for three matches: the derby against Palmeiras in April, and the games against Rosario Central and Coritiba, both played in August.

Even before that run of call-ups, Bahia had already been given opportunities with Corinthians’ senior team. The midfielder has made four appearances for the first team, two of them as a starter. His most recent appearance came in January, when he featured in the 3-0 defeat to Red Bull Bragantino.

At the under-20 level, the defensive midfielder has played an important role throughout the season. Bahia has taken the field 25 times, starting 24 matches. During that stretch, he scored seven goals and also contributed three assists. The player’s contract with Corinthians runs until September 2027, which keeps the club holding his rights for two more seasons.

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