Ex-Corinthians coordinator on Breno Bidon signing, academy backstory | OneFootball

Before reaching Corinthians’ first team and earning enough recognition to be called up to the Brazilian National Team, Breno Bidon began his journey at Parque São Jorge through a rather unconventional path. Robson Zimerman, former scout and former technical coordinator of the club’s youth academy, revealed this Thursday (24), in an interview with the program Papo de Craque 1ª Edição on TMC, how he identified the midfielder in futsal in 2019, when the player was 14 years old, and detailed the process that led to the youngster being approved by Timão.

Bidon’s age made the process different from the standard model used in player development. According to Zimerman, clubs usually begin the transition from futsal to the field before the age of 14. In the case of the current Corinthians midfielder, traits shown in tight spaces caught the scout’s attention and opened the door to a trial period at the club.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

“Breno’s (Bidon) recruitment was very atypical. It happened at the Under-14 level, in futsal. Today, clubs usually make the transition from futsal to the field between the ages of nine and 12. At 14, we identified him (Breno Bidon). And recruitment is very subjective; sometimes we’re watching the same thing but with different views. So, we have to outline some profiles that we believe fit the club in order to make the recruitment work,” Zimerman explained.

Futsal traits led Bidon to Corinthians

The initial observation did not result in an immediate signing. After identifying the player, Zimerman approached the family and presented the possibility of Bidon undergoing an evaluation at Corinthians.

The then-scout highlighted three characteristics that caught his attention: stride, technical quality, and the youngster’s ability to operate in tight spaces. The family accepted the opportunity, and Bidon entered the evaluation process used by Corinthians’ youth development department.

“What I saw in Breno was his stride, his technical ability, and how he handled himself in tight spaces. I approached the parents, which is the normal procedure for a scout. They immediately agreed to let him be evaluated at Corinthians. We had a filter: one week per month we were able to assess all the players we had observed, and he went through that. At the time, the coach was former player Pereira. Right in the first training session, he noticed Breno, became interested, and asked about him. He had two weeks of evaluation and was approved,” he said.

That approval opened the doors to a journey that would take him through different age groups and roles on the field. Bidon played for Corinthians’ Under-14, Under-15, and Under-17 teams. In the latter, he scored four goals in 39 matches even while playing as a defensive midfielder.

Later, already at Under-20 level, the player was also used as a right winger by then-coach Danilo. The position change did not become permanent and, after returning to midfield, Bidon became a key player in the campaign that won the 2024 Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, when he was also named the tournament’s best player.

‘He went through many hands,’ says former coordinator

Winning the Copinha represented another step in the development process before his definitive promotion to the professional squad. When analyzing the path taken by the player, Zimerman stressed that recruitment represents only the beginning of a process that involves different professionals over the years.

“The scout starts with identification, and the development process ends up being carried out by the coaching staff and support team. For Breno Bidon to make it all the way to the Brazilian National Team, he went through many hands,” he emphasized.

At 21, Bidon has made 148 appearances, scored six goals, and provided four assists for Corinthians’ first team, in addition to winning three titles. His performances have also drawn interest from the international market. Beşiktaş, from Turkey, even made inquiries about the midfielder, who remained at Parque São Jorge.

Zimerman explains Europe’s search for younger players

Bidon remaining in Brazilian football at 21 also came up in the conversation. Asked about the increasingly early departures of young players abroad, the former Corinthians staff member linked the trend to the development timeline projected by European clubs.

According to Zimerman, the current strategy allows players to arrive on the international market still at the beginning of their professional careers and complete their development before reaching an age range that, in the past, usually marked the very start of transfers abroad.

“In Europe and in alternative markets, they understand that they need three to five years to get this athlete ready for the professional level. In the past, players left at 23 and finished that process at 26 or 28, which was not favorable in market terms. Today, they take the player at 18, carry out that process, and by 23 he is ready to face the market,” he concluded.

Seven years after being identified in futsal and approved following a two-week evaluation at Corinthians, Bidon is now experiencing a new stage of his career. Called up by Carlo Ancelotti for the current FIFA international window, the midfielder is part of the Brazilian National Team alongside club teammates Hugo Souza and Matheuzinho.

In the first friendly against Australia, played this Friday (25) in Townsville, Bidon started on the bench, while Hugo Souza and Matheuzinho were named in the starting lineup in the 1–1 draw.

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