Ex-Corinthians João Cardozo wins title, into UEFA Youth League with Como | OneFootball

Developed over four and a half years in Corinthians’ youth academy, center-back João Cardozo is experiencing one of the most important moments of his career in European football. Currently at Italy’s Como 1907, the defender won the Primavera 2 Regione Nord title, earning promotion for the team to the top tier of Italian youth football, Primavera 1. The outstanding season became even more significant with the senior team’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League, securing the club’s under-19 squad a place in the next edition of the UEFA Youth League, considered the Champions League of youth football.

The defender’s path continues to be closely followed by Corinthians, which retained 30% of the player’s economic rights after his transfer to Italy. A product of the São Paulo club, João is now looking to establish his development on the European stage and also dreams of a new call-up to Lebanon’s under-20 national team, after having previously been called up, although he has yet to make his debut for the national side.

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João highlights that much of his development as a player was built during his formative years at Corinthians, an experience he considers essential in arriving in European football prepared for major challenges.

“I’m very grateful to Corinthians for the four and a half years I spent at the club. It was there that I matured as a player and as a person, living day to day with a top-level structure and learning a great deal. Today I’m able to put into practice everything I developed during that period, and I’m happy to be experiencing such a special moment here in Italy, with the title, the promotion, and the opportunity to play in the UEFA Youth League.”, said the defender.

In addition to his strong form at the Italian club, the center-back has another important goal for the rest of the season: to be remembered again by Lebanon’s under-20 national team.

“Being called up to Lebanon’s under-20 national team was already a very important achievement for me. Even though I didn’t get on the field on that occasion, I’m still working to earn another chance. I want to keep improving at Como, and I believe good results at the club can open the doors to the national team again.”, João Cardozo added.

Career

João Cardozo completed much of his development in Corinthians’ youth system, where he remained for four and a half years. At 16, he was loaned out to Roma, where he was coached by José Mourinho through involvement with the senior squad. After his transfer to Italy’s Como 1907, Corinthians kept 30% of the center-back’s economic rights, continuing to monitor his development abroad.

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