Brazilian football has never lacked young wizards who are known as the "next big man". In a long list of potential superstars, the latest person to mention this title is Flamengo's 17-year-old midfielder Matthews Franca. He is only 17 years old but has already attracted the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs. Franca is a midfielder, he's mostly an attacking midfielder, but basically an all-around player who can pass the ball, has a wide field of vision and, despite being young, is also impressive in his physical qualities.
Like any young player like Franka, it's hard to be sure how good they're going to be in the future, but Franka has shown some important qualities. He is a youth product of the Flamenco Academy and he made his Baliga debut against Santos last December. Franka has only made a few appearances in the league so far, but he has impressed Brazil's youth teams both in the youth team and in international competitions. His performances at the South American Junior Championship São Paulo Cup allowed him to shine in football. Over the years, the event has been known for showcasing Brazil's potential as a rising star.
The club most recently associated with Franka is Manchester City. According to Brazilian media, the Premier League giant is preparing to offer flamenco "a truckload" of cash in order to sign the talented midfielder. He may also need a truckload of cash to get it, as his current contract has a €100 million termination clause. Still, City face stiff competition from Real Madrid as the Galacticos look to bring Franca to Spain in a manner similar to Vinicius, Rodrigo and Rainier. After missing out on Neymar joining Barca years ago, the Bernabeu is betting on young Brazilian stars in the hope that they will become superstars. For now, this strategy is working on Vinicius Jr.