Manchester City have signed Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis for £29.6m.
Reis, who represented Brazil’s U-17 team, has made 18 league appearances for Palmeiras from the club’s academy.
Sky Sports News reported a number of clubs around Europe had shown an interest in the 19-year-old. Brighton made attempts to sign Reis in this transfer window and had an approach knocked back, but it’s understood no formal offer was made.
Palmeiras has been comfortable on the scene after promoting a variety of talents to Europe for more than 18 months for big fees, adding Endrick to Real Madrid and Willian Estevao to Chelsea.
Reis says signing for City was driven by wanting to play under Pep Guardiola.
He said: “I’m very happy to sign for Manchester City, one of the biggest clubs in the world. Everyone has noticed the achievements of the past few seasons and I need to make my mark as we look for more trophies.
“Working with Pep Guardiola is anything every young player needs to do and I know he can help me be the most productive player I can be.
“City also have a lot of experience of working with Brazilian footballers and joining the likes of Ederson and Savinho in the squad will be a big help to me.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain added: “Vitor Reis is one of the most promising young defenders in the Global and we are extremely happy to bring him here.
“In his short time in senior football in Brazil, he has shown he has the ability to go very far in the game and we know that working with Pep and our coaches will help to get the best out of him.
“He has the ball very well and is exceptional in the air; It has all the attributes needed to be one of the best. Vítor is very young, but his quality is so high that he believes he can help us now and for a long time. “into the future. “
South American expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports News:
“This is City pushing the reset button. They have seen three things that they really like about this player.
“You can see the influence of Marquinhos and Thiago Silva – that is the centre-back he wants to be. Classy on the ball, head up and can play out the back.
“Versatile defensively, can function in a 3 or 4 back line. Happier on the right, but has played on the left. The other thing is the leadership qualities and those are the things that the city has identified .
“I don’t think it’s near the Premier League right now. It’s elegant, but you have to be physically filled. If you put it in the Premier League at this time, you would feel intimidated. “
Meanwhile, Omar Marmoush undergoes a medical with City on Tuesday and the Eintracht Frankfurt striker signs a contract until 2030.
Marmoush, who can operate through the top three, has earned 15 goals in the Bundesliga this season, only Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who is top of the rating with 16.
“An exciting moment for the city: Marmoush’s signing will be a coup”
Ben Ransom, Sky Sports News journalist:
“Walker in Italy is expected to finalize what is expected to be a loan move to AC Milan.
“Walker has been left out of City’s last three matchday squads since he went to director of football Txiki Beristain and askedto leave and this feels like a formality.
“We know that Milan also wanted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, but they only have room for one non-European player.
Ben Ransom, Sky Sports News reporter:
“Kyle Walker is expected to in Italy today [Tuesday] link what is a loan movement to AC Milan.
“Walker has been left out of City’s last three matchday squads since he went to director of football Txiki Begiristain and asked to leave and this feels like a formality.
“We know that Milan also wanted to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United, but they only have space for a player not belonging to the EU.
“Highly-rated Palmeiras defender Vitor Reis has signed for £29. 6 million and is someone like a city due to his leadership qualities, with the captain in the sides of all age groups. Centrebacks inside, which opens up the door for Walker to leave.
“In the meantime, Omar Marmoush is having a doctor with the city on Tuesday, having arrived in the city on Monday and that would be a genuine blow to the city as we communicate about the challenge of looking to single out big-name players in January, so to get a player that is just Harry Kane’s time on the Bundesliga goal lists would be huge. “
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