Santos’ talented forward, Marcos Leonardo, has expressed his readiness to take on challenges at a ‘major European club,’ with Manchester United, one of the Premier League’s top teams, showing interest in the young Brazilian.
The 20-year-old striker from Santos is following in the prestigious footsteps of fellow Brazilian prodigies such as Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick de Souza, and Vitor Roque, who is on his way to Barcelona. It appears that Leonardo is poised to be the next Samba sensation to make a high-profile move from South America.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport’s summer report, Manchester United has been keeping a close eye on Marcos Leonardo, but they are not the only ones interested in him. Jose Mourinho’s Roma is also in the mix, amongst other potential suitors.
However, Santos seems willing to let their young star make his move, with director Alexandre Gallo indicating a transfer to a European giant could be on the horizon when the Brazilian season concludes in December.
Moreover, Leonardo could be leaving with an impressive accolade as he is currently vying for the Golden Boot award, having scored 20 goals in 40 matches across various competitions. Known as Brazil’s ‘Baby Faced Assassin,’ he is hot on the heels of Tiquinho Soares in the scoring charts.
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Leonardo shared his thoughts with AS, discussing his journey and preparedness for the next chapter. “Since I was young, I have always had a lot of concentration and a lot of responsibilities. I think this has helped me mature in the routine of a professional team,” he said. His considerable experience at such a young age is expected to aid his transition to European football.
He continued, “Playing in high-level competitions with Santos – such as the Paulistao, the Brasileiro, the Copa Libertadores, the Copa do Brasil and the Sudamericana – I better understood the points to evolve in my game and how to behave. I think that the last two years, when I established myself as ‘number nine’ at one of the biggest clubs in the world, were extremely important to establish myself as a high-level professional athlete.”
Leonardo is convinced that it’s time for a new adventure, and with Santos’ reported £20 million valuation, Manchester United may be enticed to add another top-tier forward to their ranks, potentially alongside Rasmus Hojlund.
“I feel prepared to play for a great club and in a great European championship,” Leonardo affirmed. “Naturally, I see other young players who have already moved.”
