Scout Report – Lucas Lima
From a reasonably successful club to becoming the best club in the country, Santos FC has come a long way in Brazilian football. Santos FC has a rich history of producing some of the best footballers in the history of the game.
But it was Valdemar de Brito who really brought about a historic change to the club after inviting a mere 15-year-old named Pele to sign for the club, and the rest is history. Santos soon followed to introduce some of the best Brazilian football talents to the world like Neymar Jr, Robinho, Alex Sandro and even Philippe Coutinho.
The historic Brazilian club now has a new superstar in its hands, in the form of Lucas Lima. The 27-year-old attacking midfielder is making waves in Brazil’s top tier and has got the attention of many big European clubs and Manchester United are one of them.
The Premier League giants are reportedly interested in the midfielder, who is all set to become a free agent in the upcoming January transfer window. Jose Mourinho was keen on bringing a creative midfielder in January but failed. Lucas Limas definitely fits the bill to play for Manchester United and could be an excellent addition to Mourinho’s squad if the club can get a deal in place.
Player Profile
Signed from Internacional in 2014, Lucas Lima made an immediate impact from his first game at the club and established himself as the midfield pillar of Santos FC. Lima made his full international debut in a 1-0 win over United States on 5 September, 2015. He scored his first goal for Brazil in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, against rivals Argentina. Lima has made over 300 appearances in his professional football career, scoring 38.
Strengths
The left-footed midfielder is known for his powerful runs and his vision for a pass. His abilities on the ball were compared to Santos legend Paulo Henrique Ganso and has been a major influence in the Santos midfield. He has the ability to get into dangerous positions and dribble his way past the opposition, and is a perfect fit on the left-hand side of a three-man midfield. He also provides dagger like passes and is a set-piece specialist.
Weakness
His weakness, however, is his fragile body. He has a history of recurring injuries and has struggled with knocks, quite badly in the past, which also disrupted his form on the pitch.
Future
With his Santos contract about to expire in January, Lucas Lima will have plenty of big European clubs knocking his door, and any one of those clubs would love to have him in their squad, including FC Barcelona and the recently linked Manchester United.