Who is Joao Gomes? Things to know about the exciting Brazilian midfielder

Across Europe, fans are beginning to know the name Joao Gomes.

The 21-year-old Flamengo midfielder is shining in his homeland and has attracted interest from some of the game’s top sides, with Liverpool and Real Madrid keeping a close eye on his development.

Here’s all you need to know about him.

A product of the Flamengo youth academy, Gomes made his senior debut in November 2020, playing the full 90 minutes in a 4-1 defeat to Sao Paulo.

He was in-and-out of the starting lineup for the 2021 campaign, but began 2022 as a starter and he has not looked back since, cementing his place as one of the team’s top performers while also attracting praise as one of Brazil’s most intriguing young prospects.

While typically known for their flair, Gomes is a more-reserved talent. Playing at the base of midfield, he has drawn comparisons to Fabinho for his ability to recover possession with ruthless efficiency. At the time of writing, he averages the second-most tackles per 90 minutes in the Brazilian top flight.

That being said, he is not just a defensive anchor. Gomes enjoys getting forward and flashes an impressive ability to carry the ball through the midfield, turning defence into attack with relative ease.

A common criticism of Gomes is his lack of product in the final third. He failed to score in any of his first 50 Serie A games and recorded just two assists across that time as well.

According to Gomes himself, a lot of this is down to his positioning on the pitch, which obviously doesn’t lend itself to doing too much in attack.

“I hear a lot that I don’t know how to create,” he told FlaTV. “These days, I’m stealing more balls than I’m setting up, but I still know how to set up. I know how to make a key pass and get assists.”

Links to the Premier League are nothing knew for Gomes, who was recently asked whether he would be interested in a move to England – specifically with Liverpool.

“Liverpool are a team I’d play for,” he said. “I have the greatest desire to play. Playing in the Champions League is my biggest dream in football.”

Clearly aware of the interest in their young starlet, Flamengo acted quickly to tie Gomes down to…