Check out the promises of the São Paulo Cup that are worth keeping an eye on

The main youth competition in Brazilian football, the Copa São Paulo is also known for being the stage where new stars are revealed.

The tournament in which some current stars paraded, such as Neymar, Lucas Paquetá and Vinicius Junior, is in its 52nd edition, which began on Sunday (2). With 128 teams signed up, the championship will bring together a series of promises that fans should keep an eye on.

See below for some highlights

Corinthians – forward Giovane

The biggest winner of the Copinha, the team from Parque São Jorge is seeking its 11th trophy in the competition, in which it has already mined a number of players. Four athletes enrolled this year, in fact, competed in games with the professional squad: defender Lucas Belezi, midfielder Mandaca and forwards Rodrigo Varanda and Felipe Augusto.

At 18, striker Giovane is the main candidate to reinforce that list. It belongs to Capivariano and is on loan at Corinthians until July. In the contract between the parties, it was defined that the club must pay R$ 3 million for 60% of the athlete’s rights if it wants to keep it after this period.

In 2021, he even participated in some training with Sylvinho’s technical committee and entered the coach’s radar. Last season, he played 23 games, scored 17 goals and provided 2 assists serving the under-20 team.

São Paulo – half Pedrinho

Under the command of former midfielder Alex, idol of Palmeiras and Fenerbahçe, this edition the tricolor team will have the chance to win the fifth Copinha trophy, in addition to pinching players for Rogério Ceni’s squad.

The coach of the professional squad already has a name on his radar: midfielder Pedrinho. At the age of 19, the athlete even trained with the professional in 2021, but he did not have the opportunity to play.

Ceni, however, is betting heavily on the boy, who will play the Copinha with shirt 10. In 2021, he scored six goals and seven assists in 28 games for the under-20 team.

Santos – Rwan striker

It was at Copinha that Santos found the players who led the club’s most victorious recent generations, first with Diego and Robinho, then with Neymar. In this edition, in which they will get their fourth trophy in the tournament, the Vila Belmiro team has as great promise the forward Rwan.

At the age of 20, the athlete was bought by the Baixada club from Flamengo de Guarulhos for R$700,000. In his contract, the board placed a termination fine estimated at around 50 million euros (BRL 320 million) for clubs abroad and 100 million euros (BRL 640 million) for teams from Brazil.

In 2021, in his first season at the base alvinegra, he was the biggest highlight of the team, with 13 goals in 18 games, in addition to three assists, for the sub-20, and 3 goals in 11 games for the sub-23.

Palmeiras – Endrick striker

In the 52nd edition of the Copa São Paulo, Palmeiras will have another chance to seek the unprecedented cup of the tournament. The alviverde team enters the competition with a strong team, is among the favorites and has striker Endrick as the reference in the offensive sector.

The 15-year-old player, who will turn 16 on July 21, has been with the alviverde team since he was 10 years old and has been showing evolution every season.

Throughout 2021, he alternated between acting for the under-17 and under-20 team. In all, he scored 13 goals in 28 games, being an important player in the conquest of the under-20 state championship. Since then, he has been closely watched by the coaching staff of the first team.

Flemish – half Matheus France

Midfielder Matheus França, 17 years old, is one of the main bets of the base of the rubro-negro team. The player, who renewed his contract until 2027 with a fine of 100 million euros (BRL 640 million), was instrumental in winning the Brazilian Under-17 Cup and Under-17 Brazilian Championship, both in 2021.

In all, over the last season in Flamengo’s youth teams, he scored 19 goals in 32 games and even had the opportunity to act for a few minutes in two matches for the professional team, against Santos and Atlético-GO, in both last rounds of the Brazilian Championship.

Fluminense – half Arthur

Touted as one of the biggest promises of the Rio de Janeiro tricolor in recent years, midfielder Arthur disputes the Copinha with the objective of preparing himself to have new opportunities in the professional team.

The boy already has a history in the main team. In 2021, he became the youngest athlete to wear the Fluminense shirt in the professional era, since 1933, at just 16 years and 8 days old, according to historian João Boltshauser. He played in the second half of the defeat by Resende, 2-1, on March 4, by the Guanabara Cup.

Last season, he made 19 games and 9 goals for Fluminense’s under-17 team.

Basque – Andrey steering wheel

The team from Rio will compete in the competition with a team, basically, under-17. Champion in 1992, the team is looking for its second cup and has as one of its highlights the midfielder Andrey.

The player recently won a new contract with the Vasco team, until August 2023, as a sign of the confidence the club has in his football, in addition to crowning his last two seasons at the base of the team, in which he had a consistent performance.

In 2021, Andrey had two opportunities in the first team, and coach José Ricardo said he has his eye on the boy for the streak of the year.

Botafogo – steering wheel Kauê

In search of the unprecedented Cup of Copinha, the team from Rio will have defensive midfielder Kauê in its squad, a player who has been a constant presence in the squads of the Brazilian national team in recent years and was a starter in the conquest of the U-17 South American Championship in 2019.

Appointed with one of the biggest promises of Botafogo, the 17-year-old player recently won a new contract, until the end of 2023, with a 45 million euros (BRL 290 million) fine.

Cruzeiro – forward Riquelmo

Champion in 2007, the team from Minas is looking for the second cup in this edition of Copinha. In the heavenly squad, one of the bets is striker Riquelmo, 19, who in recent seasons has been present in several training opportunities for the professional squad.

For the first team, by the way, he played three games in 2020 and has an assist. In 2021, he played in 28 games for the under-20 team, scored two goals and provided an assist.

Atlético-MG – Rubens half

Owner of three Copinha cups, the team from Minas Gerais will have the chance to win the four-time championship in the 2022 edition of Copinha. This year’s squad includes midfielder Rubens, who was the great individual highlight of Atlético-MG’s base in 2021.

He scored 17 goals in 32 games, including Campeonato Mineiro, Copa do Brasil and Campeonato Brasileiro de Juniores. In addition, he scored 10 assists. At the end of the year, Cuca listed him for the last round of the Nacional, in the match against Grêmio.

International – Forward Enzo

The current champion of Copinha, in a final in which they won their greatest rival, Grêmio, the Colorado team will have in this year’s squad the son of their idol Fernandão, forward Enzo.

The 18-year-old player, who has a contract with Inter until the end of 2023, played little in the youth teams in 2021, however he was a constant presence in the first-team training.

Owner of five trophies, Internacional will seek the sixth in this edition of Copinha.

Guild – Kauan striker

After the vice in 2020, the tricolor gaucho will seek again the unprecedented title in this year’s edition. The Southern team will have 16-year-old striker Kauan Kelvin in its squad.

A player with recent calls to the youth teams, the striker signed his first professional contract at the beginning of last year. In 2021, however, he did little, with 16 games and three goals. Even so, it is seen as a big bet that it could even be promoted to the top team.

Athletic – Emerson striker

Another club in search of the unprecedented cup, Athletico has already debuted in this edition of Copinha and faltered against Taquarussú-TO, with a goalless draw on Monday (3).

To recover from the competition, the team from Paraná relies on the talent of 17-year-old Emerson. The forward was the club’s highlight in the last Brazilian Under-17 Championship, with 13 goals.