Rivals for Chelsea: are BVB snapping up the new Neymar? | OneFootball

Brazil is known for its almost inexhaustible reservoir of ball artists. One who has caused quite a stir recently is Gabriel Mec. The 18-year-old midfielder from Grêmio Porto Alegre has played his way onto the radar of Europe’s top clubs.

From Spain’s LaLiga, Real Betis and Villarreal are monitoring Mec, according to transfer journalist Ekrem Konur on X. The likely new Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donetsk are also said to be pursuing the young Brazilian. According to the post, club number four in the race for the two-footed youngster is Borussia Dortmund. However, the player is said to prefer a move to England or Spain.

This season, Mec made his first-team debut for Grêmio in Série A. He currently has 11 appearances and one goal to his name. The former Brazil U17 international has also featured four times in the Copa Sudamericana, which is comparable to the UEFA Europa League.

Chelsea made first offer

Back in October 2024, Chelsea came knocking and reportedly offered €24 million for Gabriel Ferreira de Carvalho, as that is his full name, according to Globo. The Blues are said to have offered Mec a five-year contract with the option for two more years. However, a move has not materialized so far. At present, the young Brazilian remains under contract with Clube de Todos until June 30, 2027.

Photo: Getty Images

Grêmio officials recently stated that there is currently no official offer for Mec. However, the club is open to negotiations. The top talent from Campos dos Goytacazes is represented by none other than Neymar Sr. The father of the former world star is said to have already offered his client to several top European clubs.

Mec is often compared to Neymar Jr. or Ronaldinho. He possesses outstanding technique, close ball control, and is regarded as a highly skilled dribbler.

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