Youth steps up and delivers: Palmeiras see new generation take centre stage | OneFootball

In the first two rounds of last year's Campeonato Paulista, Palmeiras fielded a series of homegrown youngsters: Naves, Vanderlan, Fabinho, Estêvão, Thalys, Benedetti, Allan, and Luighi. This was a reflection of the club’s policy of valuing its youth academy, which for years has sustained both sporting competitiveness and financial balance. A year later, the scenario has changed — but the essence remains.

Of the eight youngsters used at the start of that season, only three remain in the current squad: Benedetti, Allan, and Luighi. And it was precisely two of them who were decisive in Palmeiras’ recent victories, reinforcing a trademark of the club: when the academy stays, the academy delivers.

Turnover is natural in a project that produces talent on an industrial scale. Some move on to European football, others get minutes in new contexts, and some lose space due to competition. Even so, Palmeiras maintains a steady flow of young players ready to compete at a high level — and the next generation is already knocking at the door.

New generation under observation

The club is closely watching names like Larson, Luis Pacheco, Riquelme Filipe, and Eric Belé, youngsters who are starting to appear on the coaching staff’s and fans’ radar. With different characteristics among them, this quartet represents the continuity of a model that combines technical development, tactical understanding, and a competitive mindset.

The investment is not just sporting. Palmeiras has consolidated a strategy in which the youth academy is not a complement, but a pillar. The results show up on the pitch — with victories decided by those who came up through the ranks — and off it, with valued assets and long-term planning.

The most impressive cases are those of Luís Pacheco, who, even without experience in the Under-20s, became an option for Palmeiras’ professional team and is now one of two options for the defensive midfield position. Then there’s Larson, who initially joined on loan from Goiás for the Under-20s, stood out in the youth ranks, and began to get minutes with the first team, playing an important role in the first two rounds of the Campeonato Paulista.

The two generations are coming together. Larson and Pacheco, standouts in midfield. Luighi and Allan, standouts in attack. The former has received offers and is expected to leave Palmeiras in this transfer window, while the latter is highly sought after, but Verdão is rejecting high bids for the 21-year-old.

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