Be part of the new Brazil. Gabriel Vinicius Menino (Morungaba, 29-9-2000) knows a large part of this very Brazilian Real Madrid closely. In his country they call him 'the new Casemiro'and Tite has already summoned him for the absolute. He comes sharing costumes or rivalries with Vinicius, Rodrygo and Reinier. Today he explains in AS his dream that they have already lived: to make the leap to Europe.
—You were born in Morungaba, a very small place in Brazil. How was your childhood? How was your career until debuting with him Verdao?
—Yes, it's a small city in the interior, near Campinas. I always dreamed of being a soccer player. My father was a footballer and he always encouraged me. Then I went to Guaraní, then Palmeiras discovered me and I continue there.
– Not long ago in Libertadores he scored a real goal for Bolívar. I remind him of another against Chile in the U-20 team. How do you define yourself?
—I always had that characteristic of being outgoing. For a midfielder today it is important to create scoring chances. That goal in the Copa Libertadores made me very happy … I see myself as a midfielder with a current style, which people would call modern, capable of scoring, building the game and reaching the top. You have to learn more than one function …
—In Brazil they compare him a lot with Casemiro …
“I love Casemiro's style.” He is a midfielder who always plays very well, he is consolidated in Europe and also in the national team. He came out very young and immediately made way with his quality. He is a very hard-working and very humble guy. I also really like Felipe Melo, my colleague at Palmeiras. And I was inspired by Kaka, who made history with his own way of playing.
“It is good for Brazil that Vinicius, Rodrygo and Reinier are in Madrid”
Gabriel Menino, Brazilian international of Palmeiras
—You know Rodrygo and Vinicius very well because you have played with them, also now with the Seleçao. Do you think they will triumph in Madrid? And Reinier?
“They are certainly three great players.” We have always had a lot of coexistence in the lower categories, of rivalries at times. In the Brazilian youth teams we have also coincided and it always seemed to me that they have a lot of quality. It is important for Brazil that young people like them manage to perform at the highest level, in the best clubs in the world. That speaks to the potential we have here.
– Do you see yourself growing like those three Madrid jewels and coming to Europe soon?
“It's a dream.” But I'm still in my first year as a professional, I have to mature. I want to take the leap, go where the great players are, get to know other cultures and play the best competitions in the world. But I also want to make history with Palmeiras and thus give back everything they have given me …
—Until last month you were trained by an old acquaintance of the Madridistas, Vanderlei Luxemburg, quite a character …
“I have to thank you for everything you've done for me.” It has given me the opportunity and the confidence. His experience has served him well at the beginning of my career.
—Now suddenly you see yourself next to Casemiro, but also Neymar, Thiago Silva, Coutinho … Dream come true?
“He was, since he was a child.” Wear the shirt of my country. When I debuted I had an experience that I will never forget. They received me well. That encourages me to grow to have more opportunities.
Gabriel Menino, with Everton and Marquinhos in a training session in Brazil.
Lucas Figueiredo / CBF
The coronavirus postponed its great debut with Brazil
While Madrid are looking for a new Casemiro, or at least a collateral substitute (hence the great interest in Camavinga), a footballer of his court appears strongly in Brazil in the figure of Gabriel Menino. In fact, the loss due to coronavirus in the Seleçao of the Madrid midfielder opened the door to debut with the absolute of the canarinha to Menino in this FIFA break. It was already summoned in the previous break, but it could not be released and in this Tite had planned to give him the alternative against Venezuela or Uruguay … but Covid-19 has also affected him.
Last week Gabriel Menino was positive for coronavirus being already in the concentration of the Brazilian team (where he was also Vinicius, the only Madrid player called on this occasion), although from the first moment he was asymptomatic. As this newspaper learned, the boy is fine and wanting to finish the quarantine to play again …
For now, his debut with the Brazilian senior will have to be postponed (he was already in the U-20) and when he returns, he will do so at Palmeiras, the club where has experienced a real explosion. In 2020 he has 23 matches with the first team (one goal) between Brasileirao, Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup. Its market value has risen to € 10M, according to the specialized website Transfermarkt. It is the last gem of the Verdao but not the only one. “Patrick de Paula and Gabriel Veron are going to have a brilliant career, for sure”, explains Menino himself to AS. “Palmeiras have put together a very strong quarry with players who will be in big clubs and in the Brazilian team.” Europe awaits you.