Andreas relishes Palmeiras milestone as Paulista crown fuels World Cup push | OneFootball

Andreas Pereira marked his first senior title in Brazil as Palmeiras won the Campeonato Paulista, a milestone he views as the first step in a pivotal year and a boost to his World Cup ambitions.

According to Globo.com, the midfielder has quickly become a leading figure less than a year after arriving, setting clear personal targets following runners-up finishes at the end of 2025.

Carlo Ancelotti will name Brazil’s squad on Monday for friendlies against France and Croatia on 26 and 31 March. The staff have been in frequent contact as they track his form, and he stresses hard work while seeing Palmeiras as a platform.

His influence was decisive in the state title, and he was selected among the competition’s best midfielders.

He highlighted Palmeiras’ stature and the early trust shown, noting he received a Brazil call-up soon after joining even before he had properly trained, something he felt underlined the club’s weight.

Playing alongside Marlon Freitas, he has embraced a more possession-heavy style without a traditional ball-winner. He joked that while there is no pit bull, there could be two German shepherds.

The Paulista triumph ended an almost two-year wait for silverware and softened the sting of three runners-up finishes in 2025. He echoed dressing-room calls to impose themselves more against leading rivals, while insisting it must come with respect and pride in the shirt.

Palmeiras now return to the Brasileiro to defend top spot, visiting Vasco on Thursday at 19:30 Brasília time at São Januário in the fifth round.

Source: Globo.com