Samuel Pierri awaits more senior chances at Santos in season’s second half | OneFootball

Santos midfielder Samuel Pierri is awaiting more first-team chances after the World Cup break, with a transfer ban pointing the club towards the Meninos da Vila.

According to Diario Do Peixe, the 18-year-old was on the bench for the 19th-round trip to Botafogo at Nilton Santos on Thursday 16.

He called the restart a major challenge and said the squad will give everything on the pitch so fans can enjoy a positive return. He added the second half brings plenty of work and, for academy players, a vital window to develop and settle in the senior side.

A standout for the under-20s, Pierri was praised by coach Cuca and trained with the seniors before debuting against San Lorenzo in the Sudamericana, then facing Deportivo Cuenca, both at Vila Belmiro. He also featured against Grêmio and Vitória in the Brasileirão and played a friendly with União São João.

He recently extended his contract to January 2029. Pierri turned 18 in January and is in his first year at the oldest youth level, having appeared in the Copinha and the Brasileiro under-20.

At Santos since 2018, when he was nine, he has had Nike as his sportswear sponsor since 2021. He has played as a 10 and an eight and has even filled in at centre-back, though his natural role is a number five. His youth honours include the Under-11 Paulista in 2019, the Under-12 Paulista Cup in 2021, plus the Under-15 Copa Votorantim and the Nike Cup in 2023.

Source: Diario Do Peixe