Who is Vitor Reis? Labelled as "the next Marquinhos"

The talented centre-back is already attracting interest from top European clubs.

Brazil are famous for unearthing many talented football stars. Over the years we have witnessed many Brazilians join big European clubs and make their name there.

Not every talented star is able to make his status in Europe. However good players do get a chance to show their traits, some fail while some become prominent stars.

Teams such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Arsenal are always quick to locate Brazilian sensations and sign them in their formative years.

Now another Brazilian star Vitor Reis at the age of 18 has started to attract interest from top sides such as Real Madrid and Arsenal. The 18-year-old’s performance for Brazilian club Palmeiras has seen him dubbed as ‘the new Marquinhos’

How Vitor Reis became a well-known figure in Brazil football?

Reis’ football journey commenced at R10 Academy which was set up by the former Selecao player Robinho. The 18-year-old was so good that he was picked up by Palmeiras academy when he was 10. There his actual football career began as he continued to impress for the club.

Not only did he make an impact with his defensive qualities but also his leadership qualities alongside other talented stars Endrick, Guilherme and Estevao. Reis signed his first professional deal with Palmeiras in 2022.

Reis’ maturity during the matches made him a stand-out player and quickly earned him a spot in the senior team. He made his debut for them this year on June 26. After earning his bow the defender has become a regular player for the team and his performance has alerted top European teams.

What’s going on now for the centre-back?

Reis has found it tough to earn back his starting spot in the team after he suffered a minor muscular problem. He has now made 15 appearances and his performance has just continued to improve. But the club want to take precautions with him and help him nurture slowly.

However, the player has already earned the faith of head coach Abel Ferreira, which saw him start Palmeiras’ Copa Libertadores last-16 tie against Botafogo. Palmeiras are also aware of the interest from other teams and they have extended his contract from February 2027 to December 2028, with his buyout clause set at €100m (£84m/$110m).

Why is Vitor Reis dubbed the next Marquinhos?

Reis has a similar playing style to Marquinhos. The teenager is comfortable on the ball and has already shown his leadership qualities. The 18-year-old has also revealed that he has modelled his game around Marquinhos.

“I’ve always looked up to Marquinhos,” he said. “I’m inspired by his attitude on and off the pitch.”

“When I was little, I used to watch a lot of not just Marquinhos, but also Thiago Silva,” he explained. “However, as I was progressing, I realised that it didn’t need to look that far afield because here we have Murilo (Cerqueiro), Gomez and Naves. Through them, I saw what I needed to do [to become a top centre-back].”

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.