Liverpool supporters may remember the name Talles Magno.
The teenage forward was linked frequently with a move to Anfield throughout 2020, with Vasco da Gama’s sporting director labelling Magno a ‘phenomenon’ with skills akin to that of a young Thierry Henry or a fresh-faced Neymar.
“Today, Talles Magno is worth no less than 50 million,” Fabio Cordella said in December 2020.
One year later, that very same player is now toiling in the MLS, scoring just twice in 15 games since leaving Vasco da Gama for New York City FC.
The chances of Liverpool paying £50 million to bring Magno across the Atlantic now look about as slim as Rafa Benitez being immortalised in bronze outside of Goodison Park.
So Endrick de Sousa, the latest Samba starlet to emerge from Brazilian soil, probably could have done without being compared to two of the greatest South American footballers of all time.
After all, comparisons with a couple of modern day superstars didn’t exactly do Talles Magno much good, raising the expectation to almost irrepressible levels.
Could Endrick de Sousa join Liverpool?
“The new jewel of Palmeiras,” UOL reporter Daniel Lavieri says of a teenage whizzkid who, like Magno before him, appears to have caught the eye of a Premier League giant or two.
According to Jorge Nicola, Liverpool and Manchester City have made contact with Endrick’s representatives.
“I think he’s like a Ronaldo or Romario. So far, he has shown brilliant finishing potential,” Lavieri adds.
Endrick is yet to sign a professional contract with Palmeiras, the reigning Copa Libertadores champions.
One would imagine, with interest from the other side of the Atlantic growing fast, Palmeiras will be looking to tie their homegrown wonderkid down to a long-term deal at the earliest possible opportunity.
“He is doing very well. He is very strong and he has a very good finishing skills. We are looking at the new promise of Brazilian football,” Lavieri explains.
“I don’t even need to mention that Manchester City, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Chelsea and other teams have an eye on him.”
Then again, less than two years ago, Talles Magno was the talk of the continent, sparking a feeding frenzy amongst Europe’s best and brightest. There can be no doubts about Endrick’s potential but living up to such sky-high expectations is no easy task.
Just ask Magno.
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