Newton, Marino and co: where are Palmeiras' academy foreigners now?

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Nosso Palestra

·22 September 2026

Newton, Marino and co: where are Palmeiras' academy foreigners now?

Six years after bringing in the first wave of foreign players for its youth ranks, Palmeiras has, in 2026, its Under-20 squad with the most players from other countries since 2020. International scouting has once again become part of the club’s strategy, as it has become a benchmark in player development and has already earned more than R$1 billion from the sale of its homegrown talents.

Currently, Palmeiras has four foreign players in its Under-20 squad: center-backs Koné, from Ivory Coast, and Konate, from Mali, Portuguese midfielder Fabio Só and Cameroonian forward Miguel Bilong. In 2020, that number reached nine, and in 2021 it was five.

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At Under-17 level, there is also a representative in 2026: the foreign player is Paraguayan midfielder Robert, who is also part of the group of young talents recruited by Verdão from outside Brazil.

Six years after the first wave of foreigners arrived at the Academia de Futebol, NOSSO PALESTRA looks back at the names who were part of the group between 2020 and 2021.

Know them all? Take a look back at foreign players from Palmeiras’ youth academy

Leonardo Zabala (Bolivia) – Center-back

Bolivian center-back Leonardo Zabala joined Palmeiras in 2020 and was part of Verdão’s Under-17 and Under-20 teams between 2020 and 2021. During his time at the club, he was called up to Bolivia’s senior national team and made his professional debut in a match against Brazil in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.

After leaving the Academia de Futebol, Zabala moved to Santos, where he played in the youth ranks and was eventually promoted to the senior squad. In 2024, the center-back moved to Mexican football, with spells at Cancún FC and Atlante. Currently, at 23, he plays for Bolívar and continues to be called up to the Bolivian national team.

Zabala came on in the second half of the match against Brazil in São Paulo-SP (Photo: Disclosure)

Ramiro Paulo (Angola) – Left-back

Angolan left-back Ramiro Paulo joined Palmeiras in 2020, coming from the Academia de Futebol de Angola. The player, who had already had spells in Chilean football, joined the Under-20 squad in 2020 and played four matches in the title-winning Paulista Under-20 campaign.

After leaving Palmeiras, Ramiro had a brief spell at Iberia in Chile and later returned to Angolan football. The full-back, born in 2001, has been with Sagrada Esperança of Angola since July 2025.

Jean Quiñonez (Ecuador) – Left-back

Known for his physical strength, Ecuadorian Jean Quiñonez joined Palmeiras in 2020 after a trial period at the Academia de Futebol, and was part of Verdão’s Under-20 team that season. The left-back was part of the squad that won the state title in the category that year, but never played for the senior team, although he was included in the squad for two Libertadores matches that year.

In 2021, he left the club and moved to Santa Cruz, where he began playing in professional competitions. After his spell with the Pernambuco side, Quiñonez played for LDU de Quito and Guayaquil City in Ecuador, Deportes Quindío in Colombia, Hapoel Petah Tikva in Israel, and SKA-Khabarovsk in Russia.

In 2025, he returned to Ecuadorian football to play for Emelec and, in 2026, had a spell at Cumbayá before moving to Sardarapat, in Armenia’s top division, his current club for the 2026/27 season – with eight matches and one assist in the country.

Erick Plúas (Ecuador) – Defensive midfielder

A standout at the 2019 Under-17 World Cup, Ecuadorian defensive midfielder Erick Plúas joined Palmeiras in 2020 on loan from Orense and was part of the Under-20 team. With limited opportunities, he made only 17 appearances for the club and returned to Ecuadorian football after his loan ended.

Back at Orense, Plúas joined the senior team and established himself in Ecuadorian football. Currently, at 24, the midfielder remains with the club, for which he plays in the Ecuadorian top flight.

Robson Matheus (Bolivia) – Midfielder

Robson is a special case among Palmeiras’ foreign players. Holding dual Brazilian and Bolivian nationality, the player came through Verdão’s youth teams from the Under-13 level, but never made an appearance for the senior side. After leaving Palmeiras, he had spells in the youth systems of Cruzeiro and Ibrachina before forging a path in Bolivia.

The midfielder played for Always Ready between 2023 and 2024 before moving to Bolívar in 2025. Currently, at 24, he remains with the club and is part of Bolivia’s senior national team, for which he played in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. With six goals and five assists in 23 matches, he was one of the club’s standouts in the first half of 2026.

Hugo Quintana (Paraguay) – Midfielder

Hugo Quintana joined Palmeiras in 2020 on loan from Olimpia and was part of Verdão’s Under-20 squad. He played six matches and provided one assist during his time at the club, but did not establish himself and left amid criticism over low intensity.

After leaving Palmeiras, Quintana returned to Olimpia, where he began to receive opportunities with the senior team. Between 2024 and 2025, he played on loan for Liverpool of Uruguay before returning to the Paraguayan club and standing out.

In 2026, the 24-year-old midfielder moved to Independiente del Valle of Ecuador and has made a promising start: four goals and four assists in 17 matches. He was called up for the first time to the Paraguay national team this Sunday (20) for the FIFA international window.

Gustavo Peralta (Paraguay) – Midfielder

Paraguayan Gustavo Peralta joined Palmeiras in 2019 on loan from Olimpia and underwent a trial period at the Academia de Futebol. The player, who has a hearing impairment, took part in friendly tournaments in Europe, but never played an official match for the club. After a brief spell at the Academia de Futebol, he returned to Paraguayan football without making an official debut.

After leaving Palmeiras, Peralta returned to Olimpia but did not establish himself. In Paraguayan football, he played for 2 de Mayo, 12 de Junio de Villa Hayes, Club Hayes and Deportivo Capiatá – all in Paraguay’s second division. In July, he signed for Independiente, also in the second division.

Jamilton Carcelen (Ecuador) – Midfielder

His long hair and playing style earned Carcelen the nickname “the new Valdivia” from Palmeiras fans. The Ecuadorian midfielder joined the club in August 2020 on loan from Independiente del Valle.

After a trial period, he was added to the Under-20 squad in February 2021 and even took part in training sessions with the senior team coached by Abel Ferreira. With no room in the squad, he left Verdão in July of that year without playing any official matches for either the youth teams or the senior squad.

After leaving Palmeiras, Carcelen returned to Ecuador and had spells at Aucas, Independiente Del Valle Under-20, Juniors (Del Valle’s B team), and Manta FC. In 2026, the 24-year-old midfielder played for Mushuc Runa between January and July but did not establish himself. He made two appearances before another move, this time to Deportivo Quito, a club playing in Ecuador’s second division.

Ecuadorian Jamilton Carcelen in training with Palmeiras (Photo: Personal Archive)

Marino Hinestroza (Colombia) – Forward

Perhaps the most prominent of them all, he joined Palmeiras in 2020, on loan from América de Cali, and remained at the club until 2021. For the Under-20s, he made 38 appearances, scored eight goals and provided three assists, but the purchase option in his loan was not exercised.

After leaving Palmeiras, Hinestroza had spells at Pachuca in Mexico, Columbus Crew in the United States, and Atlético Nacional in Colombia, where he established himself as a professional player, won domestic titles, and reached the senior Colombia national team.

In 2026, the 24-year-old forward returned to Brazilian football to play for Vasco, which paid €5.2 million for his signing. However, he has yet to establish himself at Cruz-Maltino: 30 matches and no goal contributions.

Marino has not established himself at Vasco in 2026 (Photo: Agência Brasil)

Iván Angulo (Colombia) – Forward

Among the first wave of foreigners, Angulo was the first of the project. The Colombian forward joined Palmeiras in 2019, on loan from Envigado, and was part of Verdão’s Under-20 team, with 21 matches and seven goals, which earned him a permanent deal with the club.

After aging out of the youth categories, the player also received opportunities with the senior squad, but had few chances to play for the first team, making just one appearance.

After his spell at Palmeiras, Angulo was loaned to Cruzeiro, Botafogo and Portimonense of Portugal before joining Orlando City in the United States in 2022. The North American club signed the forward permanently in January 2024 for €1.4 million. Currently, at 27, the Colombian remains with Orlando City, where he plays in Major League Soccer (MLS)

Didier La Torre (Peru) – Forward

Didier La Torre is another on the list who arrived in 2020 and left the club without even making his Under-20 debut. After a short spell at the club, he left Brazil and moved to Emmen in the Netherlands in January 2021.

After leaving Palmeiras, La Torre had spells at Emmen in the Netherlands, Osijek in Croatia, Gil Vicente in Portugal, and Cienciano in Peru. In 2025, he moved to Fujieda MYFC in Japan, but returned to Peruvian football in April 2026, once again to Cienciano.

Aníbal Vega (Paraguay) – Forward

Aníbal is another player on the list with dual nationality who joined Palmeiras before the internationalization process of youth recruitment. The forward joined Verdão at Under-15 level, coming from Vitória, and was always a standout for both the club and the Paraguay national team.

In 2020, he was promoted to the senior squad and played one match for Verdão, being part of the group that won the Copa do Brasil that year. For the Under-20s, he totaled 92 matches and 23 goals in official games.

After leaving Palmeiras, he was loaned to Vitória and União de Leiria of Portugal before not having his contract renewed and returning to Paraguayan football. In his home country, he played for Sportivo Ameliano, General Caballero and Rubio Ñú between 2023 and 2025. In March 2026, the 26-year-old forward moved to Resistencia, in Paraguay’s second division, his current club.

Newton Williams (Panama) – Forward

Panamanian forward Newton Williams joined Palmeiras in 2021, on loan from Costa del Este of Panama, and was part of Verdão’s Under-20 team – before that, he had already had experience in Latvian football and trials at Grêmio.

In total, he played 25 matches, scored seven goals and provided one assist for the category. The player also received opportunities with the senior squad, for which he took the field four times and scored one goal before leaving the club at the end of that season.

After leaving Palmeiras, Williams had spells at Nueve de Octubre of Ecuador, Sporting San Miguelito of Panama, Antigua GFC of Guatemala, and Hapoel Raanana of Israel. In 2025, he moved to Saprissa of Costa Rica – he has 12 matches and five goals for the Costa Rican side.