Angelo Gabriel: Why Chelsea are spending £13m on the Santos wonderkid
Angelo Gabriel, the talented Brazilian teenager, is poised to leave his mark in Europe after surpassing the achievements of Santos’ past legends. At just 18 years old, Angelo Gabriel has already become a regular in Santos’ first team, showcasing his exceptional skills and earning recognition as one of the club’s brightest prospects.
As a prodigious winger, Angelo has progressed rapidly through the ranks at Santos, although his journey hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Now, after three years since his first-team debut, he feels prepared to follow in the footsteps of renowned Santos graduates such as Neymar, Rodrygo, and Alex Sandro, by venturing across the Atlantic to forge a career in Europe.
While Barcelona had the opportunity to sign him, it has been confirmed by GOAL that Angelo is set to join Chelsea. The Blues have committed €15 million (£13m/$16m) to secure his services, adding him to their growing assembly of talented young players, including recent acquisitions Kendry Paez, Andrey Santos, and Cesare Casadei.
As Angelo Gabriel prepares for his move to Stamford Bridge, let’s take a closer look at his career thus far.
The Journey Begins Angelo was born in 2004 in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil. He grew up in the suburban town of Samambaia, which his father, Elismar, once described as a “favela.” Even at a young age, Angelo’s exceptional dribbling ability and speed with the ball caught attention. He enrolled in the Santos-affiliated Meninos da Vila school in his hometown before eventually joining the club’s academy, despite interest from other top Brazilian clubs. His parents made the significant move with him to Santos, a city located 1,112km away.
“In his first training session, we noticed his remarkable skills and above-average speed,” said Betinho, Angelo’s former teacher and first coach, to Correio Brasiliense. “The following year, we presented him to Santos for trials in the youth categories, and he quickly passed. He was fast and skillful, an audacious player with exceptional technical and attacking qualities.”
The Breakthrough Angelo swiftly progressed through Santos’ youth ranks and demonstrated his readiness for first-team action ahead of schedule. At just 15 years and 308 days old, he made his debut on the grand stage of Brazilian football. In October 2020, as a substitute in a match against Fluminense at the iconic Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Angelo became the youngest player in the history of the national championship, surpassing the record set by the legendary Santos player, Pele. To provide context, Neymar didn’t make his Santos debut until after his 17th birthday.
Continued Progress In April 2021, Angelo broke yet another record by becoming the youngest goalscorer in the history of the Copa Libertadores at the age of 16 years and 105 days. He achieved this feat with a tap-in goal against San Lorenzo.
At just 18 years old, Angelo has already made 129 appearances for Santos and has represented Brazil up to the Under-20 level. However, his statistical contributions have been relatively modest, with five goals and ten assists. It’s important to note that statistics alone do not fully capture the story of his impact on the pitch.
Angelo Gabriel’s move to Chelsea represents a significant step in his career, as he seeks to make a name for himself in European football. With his talent and potential, he is poised to continue his development and leave a lasting mark on the game.
