“Nice one, mate”: Gabriel Ferreira de Carvalho’s Rio nickname | OneFootball

“Hey man, all good?” or “That was really smooth.” Both expressions illustrate how the nickname of Gabriel Ferreira de Carvalho – Gabriel Mec in the football world – might currently be heard on the streets of Rio de Janeiro. At 18, the young Brazilian is preparing to head to FC Porto. Although he came through the youth ranks at Grémio in Porto Alegre, he is originally from Rio de Janeiro, a background that may explain the curious name by which he is known.

“Mec” conveys an idea of calm, control and serenity. According to those who know him, Gabriel Mec’s personality also fits that meaning. He is a dedicated young man who, from an early age, focused his efforts on building a professional career. “All good…”

The pandemic brought difficulties

Gabriel Mec was 9 years old when he moved to Porto Alegre, after catching the eye of a Grémio scout during a trial held in Rio de Janeiro in 2018. After the trial, he joined the club’s youth setup at a crucial time for his family. The early recognition of his talent ended up helping them get through a particularly difficult period.

Initially accompanied by his mother and, later, in 2020, also by his father and brother, Gabriel Mec saw both parents lose their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic. Support from some people in Rio Grande do Sul helped the family overcome those difficulties and also allowed the youngster to focus even more on football.

Meanwhile, he entered into a partnership with NR Sports, Neymar’s father’s company, to manage his image rights. The player’s development continued to attract interest: at 15, he began representing Grémio’s under-17 side and later moved directly to the under-20s. At that stage, he was linked with Chelsea, but the transfer did not go through. Now, after making 34 appearances for Grémio’s first team and representing Brazil at under-17 and under-20 level, he is on the verge of arriving in Porto.

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