Under-20 star inspired by Palmeiras idol on senior debut | OneFootball

The 4-1 victory of Palmeiras over Juventude last Saturday was even more special for the attacking midfielder Erick Belé, who made his debut in the professional team. At 18 years old, the highlight of Verdão's under-20 team celebrated the opportunity at the club and revealed his inspiration from an idol in the squad.

“It's a very good year for me, I was called up for the World Cup, moved up to the professional team. Eternal gratitude to Palmeiras. I arrived here very young and living all this is a dream. When Abel called me, my heart started beating faster. It's a very gratifying feeling, I'm very happy to have debuted,” said the midfielder.

Erick Belé joined the Palmeiras delegation amid preparations for the match against Juventude. The athlete was previously focused with the Brazilian under-20 team for the World Cup of the category. However, Brazil was eliminated early in the group stage.

Inspiration in Raphael Veiga

Left-footed like Raphael Veiga, Erick Belé can play centrally or on the wings, expanding the options for the under-20 or main team coaches. Wearing the number 10 jersey in the under-20, Belé revealed his inspiration in the number 23, who already has a long career at Palmeiras.

“I look up to Veiga a lot, he has been my inspiration since I was young. I always looked up to him. Sharing the field with him is very good, eternal gratitude. The coaching staff helps a lot, always giving us advice, helping in training. We have a very victorious base, used to winning. The professional team is also always winning. We came to add, to win even more here. If everything goes well, we hope to become champions once again,” added Belé.

Erick Belé's journey at Palmeiras

Erick Belé joined Palmeiras in 2018. Since then, he has been standing out in the club's youth categories, catching the attention of Abel Ferreira. The coach, keeping an eye on the gem, includes the athlete in professional training and, after listing him for two other games, promoted his debut against Juventude. This year, Belé played 36 matches and scored 17 goals.

One of the 12 youth players who debuted this season, Belé had his contract renewed with Palmeiras until December 2028.

The Palmeiras under-20 team is still competing this season in the São Paulo State Championship under-20. The Academy's Creations advanced to the semifinals of the State Championship last Sunday by defeating Botafogo-SP and will compete in the finals in the coming weeks against Santos.

Next Palmeiras match

Palmeiras vs. Red Bull Bragantino (28th round of the Brazilian Championship) Date and time: October 15, 2025 (Wednesday), at 7 PM (Brasília time) Location: Allianz Parque, in São Paulo (SP)

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