Santos striker Marcos Leonardo believes he is ready to play for a ‘great club’ in Europe as Premier League giants Manchester United mull over the Brazilian forward.
Following in the footsteps of Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo Goes, Endrick de Souza and the Barcelona-bound Vitor Roque, Santos’ 20-year-old centre-forward looks destined to become the latest Samba starlet to leave the South American nation for a substantial fee.
Gazzetta dello Sport claimed in the summer that Manchester United were watching Marcos Leonardo closely. They are not alone. Jose Mourinho’s Roma among his array of other suitors.
Santos are unlikely to stand in his way either, director Alexandre Gallo indicating that Leonardo will be allowed to embark upon a dream move to a European powerhouse when the Brazilian season finishes in December.
And Leonardo could yet depart with a Golden Boot award in his suitcase. Brazil’s very own ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ is chasing down Tiquinho Soares in the scoring charts, while netting 20 times in 40 games across all competitions.
“Since I was young, I have always had a lot of concentration and a lot of responsibilities. I think this has helped me mature in the routine of a professional team,” Leonardo tells AS, his vast experience at such a young age potentially easing his adaptation to life on the other side of the Atlantic.
“Playing in high-level competitions with Santos – such as the Paulistao, the Brasileiro, the Copa Libertadores, the Copa do Brasil and the Sudamericana – I better understood the points to evolve in my game and how to behave.
“I think that the last two years, when I established myself as ‘number nine’ at one of the biggest clubs in the world, were extremely important to establish myself as a high-level professional athlete.”
‘I feel prepared’
Leonardo, meanwhile, is in no doubt that the time for a fresh challenge is fast approaching, Santos’ reported £20 million asking price unlikely to put off a Manchester United side who may look bring in another potentially elite-level centre-forward to join Rasmus Hojlund (FT).
“I feel prepared to play for a great club and in a great European championship,” Leonardo adds. “Naturally, I see other young players who have already moved.”
