Exciting QPR claim made on Brazilian 'wonderkid' - Julien Stephan rates him highly | OneFootball

Esquerdinha has made an extremely strong impression on QPR supporters at such a young age

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Queens Park Rangers supporters have seen many great talents make their mark at Loftus Road before going on to shine elsewhere later on in their senior careers.

The current squad at Julien Stephan's disposal also includes plenty of homegrown talents looking to emulate the recent success stories of Ilias Chair - who has stayed loyal to the West London side for many years - as well as one of the most talked about players in the recently-closed summer transfer window, with the club landing a significant windfall after Ebere Eze completed a £67.5m move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal.

After years of stagnating in the Championship since the club's last fallout from the Premier League back in the 2014/15 campaign, Rangers supporters are, for once, extremely excited and optimistic regarding the club's short and long-term aims following the Frenchman's appointment in mid-June following Marti Cifuentes' departure, with a major squad overhaul conducted in this part of the capital.

W12 hasn't exactly been the strongest breeding ground for talent of late, it must be said, although that looks like it has changed with the likes of Rayan Kolli also breaking into the first-team fold and making a respectable impression immediately after progressing through the academy ranks.

However, Football League World asked our resident Hoops fan pundit, Louis Moir, which particular young prospect is he pinning his hopes on when it comes to becoming the next homegrown star in this part of London.

Queens Park Rangers praised for "plucking out" 19-year-old left-back Esquerdinha

Moir's selection came in the form of 19-year-old Brazilian full-back Esquerdinha, who moved from his native South America to the English capital back in February from Fluminense.

Initially joining Rangers' development side, CEO Christian Nourry outlined at the time of his arrival that it helped signal a change in how younger players are given a pathway towards regular first-team football at Loftus Road, which Moir states has been evident in recent weeks and months, whilst also praising the young defender for his consistent performances in a limited sample size.

"The way our youth system is set up now, there's a few that have been signed in the development side and in a few years, they could come through into the first-team," he said.

"One that's certainly exciting and has been involved a fair bit already this season is Esquerdinha," Moir stated. "He's only 19 as well.

"We plucked him out of Brazil. He looks like your 'naturally gifted' Brazilian footballer. He was signed for our development side, but played quite a few games in that side last season and seemed a level above.

"He seemed to excel quite quickly. And, for someone who's come over and can't speak the language, to do well is a really good sign," our fan pundit claimed.

"He must've done well and impressed when training with the first-team. He played a couple of games in pre-season, did well and, before signing Norrington-Davies, he was looking like our first-choice left-back with Larkeche getting a severe injury.

"Every time Esquerdinha's been on the pitch, whether that's coming on or starting, he hasn't looked out of place," our fan pundit added. "To be thrown in, in a way, and cope with it, he's done well.

"He's so raw, but there's obviously such a talent there. To me, he seems really composed, and for a teenager being thrown in at the deep end at Championship level. He could define the term 'wonderkid'.

"If he's showing us what he's capable of now, then next season, he could be our starting left-back," Moir predicted.

"That signing, along with a few others made for the development squad, is a different calibre of player we've got in the youth setup now.

"He's really exciting. I would have no harm in him - with what he's shown so far - or Norrington-Davies starting, that's for sure."

Queens Park Rangers have landed significant transfer coup with Esquerdinha

As Moir alluded to, the full-back has played with a maturity way beyond his years in a league known for having a completely different reputation to that of the Brazilian Serie A.

Understandably, at such a young age, Esquerdinha is far from flawless, but his defensive and attacking numbers are extremely commendable too as a result, with the youngster also registering an assist in the recent 3-1 success over Charlton Athletic.

Prior to his West London switch, it was reported that Barcelona were monitoring the defender's development, which doesn't only echo the potential that he can fulfil in the years to come, but the significant transfer coup the Hoops pulled off back on February 3rd.