Palmeiras youngster inspired by Vitor Reis, leaves future to Abel | OneFootball

The young defender Robson arrived at Palmeiras at the end of 2023 and, since then, has undergone a rapid process of evolution. The defender has established himself as one of the main leaders of the squad and revealed that he was inspired by a product of the Academy already recognized in international football: Vitor Reis.

Vitor Reis had a meteoric rise at Palmeiras. The 19-year-old was integrated into the professional team in 2024 and, in the same year, made his debut for the club. He gained a sequence as a starter and stood out to the point of attracting the attention of Manchester City, which disbursed 37 million euros (about $ 232 million at the exchange rate of the time) to sign him in January 2025.

Vitor Reis's trajectory at Verdão, although brief in the professional, serves as an example for many athletes in the base, and Robson is one of them. The player also highlighted the offensive ability of the former teammate, who scored two goals in the top team - one of them, in fact, on his debut as a starter in the classic against Corinthians.

"Vitor Reis and these boys who have been promoted [Benedetti, Figueiredo] are examples for many people. Vitor Reis himself is a gigantic example because, when I arrived, he was already playing in the professional, but he went down to play in the under-20 and in the base. You see the evolution he had, from moving up to the professional, scoring goals and going to Manchester City. He is an example for many young defenders who dream of one day reaching where he has reached," said Robson in an exclusive interview with Gazeta Esportiva.

Despite the inspiration in Vitor Reis, Robson's main references in the position are the Paraguayan Gustavo Gómez, Palmeiras' maximum idol, and Marquinhos, PSG's defender and a regular figure in the Brazilian National Team.

The experiences in the professional

Just like Vitor Reis did in his trajectory, Robson has already been called up to complete some training sessions in the professional team of Palmeiras, but he seeks to follow the transition processes with patience. The defender had the opportunity to work right next to his idol, Gustavo Gómez, but said he didn't have any special conversation with the Palmeiras captain.

"No, no [if there was any special conversation]. The [first] opportunity I had to train in the professional, he asked my name, if everything was okay, and asked to always keep the focus," revealed Robson, who also told an episode with the experienced goalkeeper Marcelo Lomba.

"In one of the training sessions, I even talked to Lomba, and he said: 'You have to keep the focus, boy. You have to keep the focus, because one day you can be here. The opportunity is there'", recalled the defender.

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Robson has already integrated at least 20 training sessions with the Palmeiras squad, but faces strong competition in the position. In addition to Gómez, his competitors would be the defenders Murilo, Micael and Bruno Fuchs, as well as the products of the Academy Benedetti and Figueiredo, who are also regular figures in the professional team.

The 19-year-old highlighted the "dream" of being able to play for the professional team of Verdão, but kept his feet on the ground and left the decision in the hands of coach Abel Ferreira. The idea, at the moment, is to focus entirely on the under-20, which is competing in the knockout stage of the Paulista Championship.

"These opportunities I had [to train with the professional] were very important to me, right. If one day I'm there, it will be a dream come true. I work for that. But my total focus is really on the under-20. I don't even think much about it, you know? I leave that to my staff and Abel," he pondered.

The importance of Lucas Andrade

Before arriving at Palmeiras, Robson accumulated experiences in football through social projects and the Taça das Favelas. His only club had been Flamengo de Guarulhos. The leap directly to a giant of Brazilian football was great, but just as the club trusted the player, he also trusted Verdão.

The figure of coach Lucas Andrade, in this sense, was fundamental. The coach of Palmeiras' under-20 team talked to Robson and believed in the young man's potential, who today stands out as one of the team's captains.

"Lucas played a very important role, especially when I arrived. He and the entire commission welcomed me when I arrived. That moment was very important. I had just arrived, I was adapting, and when Vitor Reis left the under-20, the opportunity fell into my hands. Then I went and took over. That was very important to me," explained the defender.

"Lucas is very important in our work. Whatever is needed, he will help. He has always helped us, also gave us opportunities. His role has always been very important to us, and always will be," he concluded.

Lucas Andrade, in the center, after winning the Brazilian under-20 championship in 2025 (Photo: Fabio Menotti/Palmeiras)

Surprise with calls for the Under-20 National Team

Palmeiras, currently, is one of the biggest showcases for players who aim to achieve a call-up, whether in youth football or in the professional. It was precisely through his good performances for Alviverde that Robson won his first opportunities in the Brazilian Under-20 National Team.

Robson was called up for the first time to integrate the group that faced Egypt, in friendlies played in June. Then, he was called up again, this time for the two matches against Paraguay, held in August of this year. The defender received the call-ups with surprise, but recognized the individual merit behind them.

"The call-ups were very important. When I received the news, at first instance, I didn't believe it. I thought I wouldn't be called up, I didn't have those thoughts. But when I received the call-up, I started to value my potential more and saw that I could go much further than that. It means a lot to me, it's very important, because we work a lot at Palmeiras. All the opportunities that will come, will always be due to merit, our work, commitment and dedication," he said.

Born in Guaianases, in the East Zone of São Paulo, Robson went through many difficulties until he got where he is. The defender used to deliver shoes and tools with his father, until he decided to bet his chips on football. It was in sport that the young man found his passion and, in a short period of time, reached the Brazilian National Team.

"When I got there, I saw the players from other teams, the reception I had. It was a very important moment in my life, a film passed in my head. To go from a Taça das Favelas, from Flamengo de Guarulhos in a Copinha, to reach the Brazilian National Team, means a lot in my life. One day, with a lot of faith in God, I dream of playing a World Cup," celebrated the defender.

Robson in training of the Brazilian Under-20 National Team (Photo: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF)

Modest goals and dreams

Still looking for an opportunity in the top team, Robson has a modest goal at Palmeiras: to move up to the professional and fulfill the dream of defending the alviverde shirt.

But, like every player, the defender also allows himself to dream. Europe is, for sure, a goal in the athlete's career plan. "Ah, one day [I want] to get to Real Madrid, to achieve bigger things. Which player doesn't dream like that?" joked Robson.

With Palmeiras' under-20, Robson won two titles: the 2024 and 2025 Brazilian Championships of the category.

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