Antonio Conte’s Chelsea is just one of those three teams who have a 100% record in the Premier League season so far. The Blues do look to be a more resilient side than last season and most of the credit should fall to Conte. The Italian manager has brought in his style to the Stamford Bridge and players are adopting it really well.
The transfers have been concluded, but the rumours are suggesting that the manager has already started planning for the January transfers and one player that could be on his way is Thiago Maia. The 19-year-old Brazilian plays for Santos as a defensive midfielder and was part of the national side that won the Gold medal at the recently held Olympics.
With Chelsea reportedly willing to spend £15 million to capture the high rated player, we find out just what he is all about.
London calling for the Brazilian?
Thiago Maia or Thiago Maia Alencar was born in Boa Vista and started his career with Extreme Norte, a local club. He then moved to Sao Caetano to join their youth system in 2010 and this is when things started to click for the youngster.
The next year saw him move out from Paulo to Santos and he made his first team debut in 2014 against Chapecoense in the Brazilian Serie A championship. He cemented his place in the first team thanks to Alison’s injury in 2015 and Maia has not looked back ever since.
In a team that featured a lot of attacking talent like Lucas Lima, Maia shone thanks to his all-around ability in the heart of midfield. The 19-year-old is a defensive midfielder through and through, not something you would expect from a Brazilian blood (because they are usually known for their Samba skills).
Maia isn’t someone who will go charging up the field. The Santos star is known for his tackling and ball interception skills, even though he is young, he is one of the best in Brazil. Maia also is great with his positioning, again something that normally comes with years of experience.
The Brazilian is also very comfortable on the ball, as expected by someone from the South American nation. Maia has great vision and is often on the lookout for that one killer ball that does lead to a few issues.
Maia though lacks concentration and his passes and distribution are extremely erratic at times. He does love to dribble the ball out of midfield at times, however, he is not someone who will charge up the field and have a shot on goal.
The youngster has proven his capabilities over the past season with Santos and seems to be ready to make a move to England. Chelsea already have a number of Brazilians in the team and Maia seems to be a Conte kind of player. The price is not a ludicrous amount and this does seem to be the right deal for both player and club.