Not Neymar, but this Santos star set to be named in Brazil's squad vs India - Report

Carlo Ancelotti has kept close eye on local homegrown talents from the Brazilian Serie A.

After another disappointing campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2026, the South American giants are eyeing a fresh start in the new four-year cycle. The Brazil national team are set to take on Australia in two friendlies before heading to Kolkata to take on Indian Football team at the Salt Lake Stadium.

The most successful team in the history of the FIFA World Cup, Brazil are going through a generational transition as several veteran players are set to be dropped off by Carlo Ancelotti, who will be spearheading the new and exciting era of Brazilian football.

Ahead of the squad announcement scheduled just a few hours later tonight at around 11:30 PM IST, we take a closer look at a young Brazilian star who has been in sublime form in the Brazilian Serie A for Santos.

Many Brazilian media outlets reported that several players from the Brazilian top flight have also been added to the preliminary squad, and Ancelotti has been keeping a close eye on the Brazilian Serie A to promote more local and homegrown talents.

In this article, we take a closer look at one such player from Santos who will most likely get a call-up from the India vs Brazil friendly.

Gabriel Bontempo has been phenomenal for Santos

The Uberaba-born attacking midfielder joined the youth academy of Santos when he was just 11 years old. He climbed the academy ranks and signed his first professional contract in July 2022, starting in a 2–1 Campeonato Paulista away loss to Velo Clube.

In the ongoing Brazilian Serie A season, he has found the back of the net five times and has given 4 assists. From an academy product to starting over 70 games for Santos, he has emerged as one of the best young players in the Brazilian top flight.

An advanced playmaker, he boasts exceptional passing accuracy in domestic leagues. He is a big-match player who fearlessly keeps finding the back of the net when his team needs him the most, which was quite evident when he scored three goals in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana.

His positional fluidity and versatility make him an asset for whichever team he plays. Apart from just playing as a midfielder, he can be deployed as a creative winger on the flanks, and he is one of the most tactically intelligent players.

Can Bontempo be Brazil’s next midfield mastermind?

As Brazil navigates through a transitional phase, it will be interesting to see whether Carlo Ancelotti will pick Bontempo in the final squad for Australia and India fixtures. While many may argue that he is just 21 and has no prior international experience, his recent form speaks volumes about why he must be included.

At such a young age, he has proven himself in the Brazilian top flight, garnering attention from top European clubs. When Brazil takes on India, they will most likely encounter a heavily congested low block and who better than Bontempo to operate in those half spaces to unlock tight defences.

Australia, on the other hand, offers a highly physical and organised defensive structure, and Bontempo possesses the creativity to operate effectively as a right winger or a central midfielder.

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