Cruzeiro sign Colombian starlet Néiser Villarreal | OneFootball

Cruzeiro has secured the signing of the Colombian forward Néiser Villarreal, aged 20, considered one of the great promises of South American football. Born in Tumaco, a city in the department of Nariño, the young player recently stood out with convincing performances for the Colombian Under-20 national team.

Revealed by Millonarios, one of the most traditional clubs in the country, Villarreal was promoted to the professional team in 2023. Since then, he has attracted attention for his physical presence — he is 1.86m tall — and his versatility on the field, being able to play both as a center forward and on the wings of the attack.

The striker's major breakthrough came at the beginning of 2025, during the South American Under-20 Championship. Villarreal was the top scorer of the competition, scoring eight goals in nine games and also providing four assists. One of the most memorable moments was the goal that secured Colombia's 1-0 victory over Brazil.

His performance caught the attention of Brazilian and European clubs, who entered the race to sign him. However, Cruzeiro took the lead and managed to bring the player to Toca da Raposa. The expectation is that he will strengthen the celestial attack this season, offering speed, physical strength, and good finishing.

With the profile of a modern athlete and in rapid ascent, Néiser Villarreal arrives in Brazilian football with the status of a gem and carries the hope of being one of the protagonists of Cruzeiro's future.

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