Felipe Volchan has made scout reports on Rodriguinho of São Paulo, Jhon Jhon of RB Bragantino and Facundo Bernal of Fluminense. Read the reports here.
Rodriguinho – São Paulo
Rodriguinho is a 21-year-old midfielder at São Paulo who has steadily carved out a place in the team with his elegance on the ball and intelligence in possession. Standing tall at 1.85m but carrying a light frame of just 65kg, he does not impress physically at first glance. His build leaves him vulnerable in contact situations, and despite his height he struggles to impose himself aerially. Yet, what he lacks in strength he often compensates with technical quality and an advanced reading of the game.
His athletic profile is marked by contrasts. He accelerates well once already moving, surprising opponents with his long stride that disguises his pace, though from a standing start he is less explosive. His running style looks awkward, perhaps the consequence of a late growth spurt, but he can reach above-average top speeds. Quick adjustments at small angles come naturally, while full turns are more labored. Endurance and intensity are issues: he too often jogs without urgency, presses with little conviction, and offers minimal resistance when the ball is lost.
On the ball, Rodriguinho is a pleasure to watch. He is two-footed in both passing and dribbling, equally comfortable finding teammates with either foot. His first touch is outstanding, cushioning or directing the ball seamlessly into space. His long stride allows him to carry the ball forward without losing control, head up and scanning, which makes him particularly dangerous in transition. He is also a set-piece taker: capable of delivering corners and free kicks with whip and bend.
Tactically, Rodriguinho shows a maturity that belies his age. He plays as a central or attacking midfielder, typically in a three-man unit, and likes to orchestrate play rather than finish it. His scanning habit is constant, which allows him to process situations quickly and circulate the ball efficiently. He often signals and points to guide teammates, showing an unusual level of communication for a young midfielder.
Off the ball, his movements are intelligent: drifting wide to give teammates space, offering himself for combinations, or fixing a defender to free up another. His most common movement is to come close to the ball, orchestrating and recycling possession, while he almost never runs in behind — a limitation for an attacking midfielder expected to pose a finishing threat. He dictates tempo well in lateral circulation and can progress play through quick give-and-go combinations, but at times he slows the rhythm with unnecessary touches, resembling a player who prioritizes security over daring. Defensively, his flaws are evident. He ball-watches, fails to scan spaces, and is late in pressing or tracking back. He communicates little in defensive phases, and his lack of urgency often leaves gaps for opponents to exploit.
In terms of projection, Rodriguinho recalls Paulo Henrique Ganso, another elegant Brazilian midfielder whose technical brilliance and vision were undermined by a lack of intensity at the highest level. The comparison is not perfect — Rodriguinho does not appear to have the same ceiling Ganso had as a prodigy — but the similarities in style, body type, and tempo control are striking.
His urgent needs are clear: greater intensity, defensive discipline, and a willingness to take more risks in creation. In the longer term, he must grow in decision-making consistency and become more aggressive in finishing at the final third. At his current stage, he profiles as a solid starter or rotation player for mid-table Brazilian clubs (as São Paulo is currently), where his strengths can flourish without being overly exposed. With development, he could grow into a central piece for top-tier Brazilian sides or in leagues such as Portugal, Turkey, or the Netherlands. For now, remaining in Brazil to refine his physicality and intensity looks the best path forward.
Jhon Jhon – Red Bull Bragantino
Jhon Jhon is emerging as one of the most intriguing midfield prospects in Brazil, he is the creative live-wire of Red Bull Bragantino’s attack: a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who plays on instinct, breaks structure to find pockets, and tilts matches with bursts of invention and risk.
At 178cm and 72kg he carries a slight, lean frame, but his first step is explosive and his top speed above average for an attacking midfielder. He absorbs contact better than you’d expect — he rides tackles and keeps running, slipping through challenges with a slithery, elastic agility that lets him contort his body and emerge with the ball. In Brazil’s officiating culture he acquired the tendency to go down easily at times in order to draw fouls, but the underlying balance and strength through the core are real. His engine is elite for a high-press side: he sustains intensity for 90 minutes and is a reliable presser in Bragantino’s system.
Technically he’s a very complete player. Outsading first touch; combinations are crisp in tight lanes; and he can vary weight and angle in short passes to keep moves flowing. The long pass is in the toolbox, but he more often links in close with a dropping 9 (Eduardo Sasha) and the near-side winger. Crossing is a weapon from the half-spaces. His dribbling is the headliner: he can unglue markers with quick feet in traffic or carry at speed in space, mixing step-overs, feints and other skills in an improvisational flurry.
That freedom has a cost though: he’s among the league’s most frequently dispossessed players because he attempts those actions in central corridors where failure bites. As a shooter he favors precision over power with inside-foot curlers, the same technique that makes him Bragantino’s free-kick and corner taker. Despite being very accurate with his right, the weak left foot still needs work.
Tactically, Bragantino give him license to roam. He hunts pockets further up the pitch to create, rather than dropping deep to build-up. The processing speed is advanced: constant scanning lets him receive already knowing what to do next and surprising defenders often. He drifts inside-out to combine with full-backs and wingers, partly to create safer 1v1s at the flank and partly to pull the opposition out of shape. He can operate as a classic 10 or as an inside winger on either side; the through-line is freedom and proximity to the box. Out of possession he buys into the collective press and covers ground effectively and with high effort levels.
In conclusion, Jhon Jhon will thrive in systems that encourage positional freedom and prioritize high pressing with fast support around him. Mid-tier sides in the top 5 Leagues or top-tier clubs in other European competitions would get an instant creative play bump if they decide to sign the Brazilian. The development asks are clear: reduce central turnovers, add weak-foot competence, and replace “contact seeking” (to draw fouls) with contact riding to keep moves alive. If he does that, we’re looking at a complete chance creator who can scale to Champions League and National Team environments with the right runway.
Facundo Bernal – Fluminense
Facundo Bernal, 22, is a defensive midfielder for Fluminense in Brazil’s Série A. With dual Uruguayan and Italian nationality, he has drawn European attention as a tall, positionally intelligent holding midfielder. While still adapting to Brazil’s higher tempo, Bernal is showing promise as a reliable ball-winner and tempo-setter, though his game remains raw in faster, high-pressure contexts.
Bernal stands 187cm and weighs 80kg, with a tall, lean frame combining reach and strength. His long legs give him an advantage in tackles and aerial duels, making him effective in midfield battles and set pieces.
Yet his athletic limitations are notable. He is not particularly agile or explosive, struggles to turn quickly, and takes time to reach top speed. While his stride allows him to cover ground, he lacks raw pace, and endurance remains a work in progress: he is often subbed after 70–80 minutes in Brazil’s more physical league. He is not yet ready for a top European pace and intensity.
Bernal is a solid passer, excelling in short combinations and lateral switches with his right foot, though his left remains underdeveloped. His first touch is reliable, and he has improved in using his body to control the ball while maintaining rhythm.
In open space, he can turn past markers with strength and body feints, but he struggles in tight areas under pressure. Dribbling is functional rather than creative, and shooting remains weak — his long-range efforts often lack power and accuracy. Defensively, Bernal shines with precise, clean tackles, using his long legs and physicality to disrupt play. In a European context, he could be an elite ball-winner.
Bernal excels as a deep-lying midfielder, orchestrating possession from the base while shielding the defence. He recycles the ball, switches play, and offers a reliable passing outlet. Tempo is his main limitation: he must make quicker decisions under pressure, especially in Europe.
Out of possession, he positions just ahead of the centre-backs, where aerial dominance and tackling make him effective. His mobility limits pressing intensity, explaining why Fluminense uses him mainly in midfield trios (4–3–3 or 3–5–2) rather than in a 4–2–3–1. He has shown adaptability in a double pivot, though still struggles when pressured closely in tight spaces.
Bernal suits leagues with moderate tempo and less pressing, such as Serie A, Ligue 1, or mid-table La Liga clubs. His Italian passport adds recruitment appeal.
He performs best as a single pivot paired with dynamic, creative midfielders who progress play. His ceiling is a reliable Europa League-level starter — defensively solid, composed in possession, but unlikely to be a Champions League standout yet. Reported interest from Real Betis highlights his potential, though Fluminense aim to retain him.
A move to a top-tier, high-intensity league would expose his current limitations. With continued development in tempo, decision-making, and endurance, Bernal could mature into a Busquets-style anchorman. Clubs may benefit from waiting a year or two to acquire a more complete, polished player at a fairer price.
Target Scouting 