From cold England to hot Belém: Matheos Ferreira fulfils Brazil U20 dream

Brazil’s Men’s Under-20 National Team held their first training session in Pará on Monday (9) as they prepare for friendlies against Peru. All 23 players available to coach Paulo Victor took part, including Newcastle forward Matheos Ferreira, who traded the English cold for the heat of Pará and went straight from the airport to the stadium. All to wear Brazil’s famous yellow jersey for the first time.

The most optimistic weather forecast for Newcastle on Sunday (8) was 8°C, at least four times lower than in the capital of Pará, where temperatures reached 32°C on Monday (9). Even so, after landing in Belém following a stopover in São Paulo, Matheos wasted no time: he picked up his kit and boots and reported to coach Paulo Victor for his first training session in a Brazil shirt.

Brazil’s Men’s Under-20 National Team held their first training session in Belém ahead of the friendlies against PeruCredits: Joilson Marconne / CBF

Born in England to Brazilian parents, the winger says he is working hard to learn Portuguese. In the meantime, he communicates best with the ball at his feet and is grateful to the squad for the welcome he received. “It was very tiring, but I’m happy to be here. I was looking forward to coming here and practising my Portuguese. I’m making an effort,” he said.

Quick and physically strong, the player promises to bring not only quality to the team but also intense pressing, putting opponents under pressure as they build from the back—attributes he has picked up in European football. When asked how it felt to wear the most prestigious shirt in the world, he was lost for words, not because of a limited vocabulary, but because he was overwhelmed with emotion. “Very happy to play for Brazil, to have been called up,” he said.

After the “Super FIFA International Window,” assistant coach Lucas Andrade and head coach Paulo Victor stayed in Europe to scout Brazilian talent alongside Branco, the general youth development coordinatorCredits: Joilson Marconne / CBF

The call-up is, in fact, the result of the coaching staff’s scouting work, particularly in the period following the “Super FIFA International Window,” between September and October, when the Under-20 team played three friendlies in Spain. Coach Paulo Victor explained that, at the end of that period, he extended his stay in Europe to visit European clubs in search of Brazilian talent alongside assistant coach Lucas Andrade and Branco, the CBF’s general coordinator of youth national teams.

“We have this project to identify promising players who play abroad. After the Super FIFA International Window in Spain, Branco, Lucas and I stayed in Europe, visiting clubs in Germany, England, Spain, Portugal and Italy. We visited many players on our radar and found some good options. Matheos is one of them: he’s coming in to be assessed and get his first opportunity with the Brazilian National Team. And football has a universal language. He’s a boy the squad has already welcomed with open arms, and he will undoubtedly show everything he can do during his time here with us,” the coach said.

The Under-20 team will train again on Tuesday (10) at Mangueirão at 6 p.m.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.