Cauan Baptistella is an 18-year-old attacking midfielder who played for Cruzeiro’s U-20 team this past season. Originally born in Benevento, Italy, he holds both Italian and Brazilian citizenship. Baptistella is very reminiscent of the old school no.10, standing out for his creativity, flair, and excellent technical ability on the ball. Despite being 17 for the entirety of the U-20 Brasileiro season, he led the league in total goal contributions with 18, getting 12 goals and 6 assists.
Baptistella stands at 1.77 m (5’10”) and has a slightly stocky build. He is not particularly quick or explosive over longer distances, but possesses a good burst of acceleration to create separation from defenders to play a pass or get a shot off. His core strength and balance are exceptional, shouldering off defenders and absorbing contact with no issue. Baptistella is very clever, knowing how to use his body to protect the ball, incorporating shoulder drops and feints to evade pressure.
Baptistella is a gifted technician. He is a strong ball carrier due to his close control and strength on the ball. He is difficult to tackle due to clever shifts in direction, making it difficult for defenders to not bite. Typically, Baptistella likes to cut in from the right wing to deliver inswinging crosses with his left foot. I was surprised by his ability to consistently deliver dangerous balls at such a consistent rate. His crosses are well-weighted and consistently delivered into dangerous areas, both from inswinging and outswinging crosses. This is also evident in his set-piece delivery, whether from corners or free kicks. His weight of pass and vision in the final third is exceptional. He will always look to play through balls. Additionally, he excels at executing lobbed through balls over defensive lines, showcasing his vision and ability to pick out runners in behind. He possesses a strong shot from distance. Whether striking with power or attempting a curved shot, his shooting technique is fundamentally strong. His two main issues have been forcing passes into the final third at times when in possession and getting tunnel vision near the top of the box and taking poor quality shots, usually due to being off balance or rushing to take a shot. He does not appear to use his weak foot very often, although it has not seemed to be an issue currently, at a higher level this could be exposed potentially.
Off the ball, Baptisella will typically operate in a free role. He will look for pockets to drift into to receive in between the lines, looking to receive on the half-turn. He will occasionally sit higher up next to the striker and form a front two to play off of him. Baptistella looks to always play on the half-turn, looking to create scoring opportunities every time he receives the ball. He likes to drift out wide naturally to the right due to being left-footed. He likes to progress the ball by carrying it into the final third or through combinations out wide with his winger and fullback. He also displays good movement in the box, capable of getting on the end of rebounds or crosses. Defensively, he has room for improvement. He can be a bit passive when attempting to hold defensive shape or close passing lanes, but he has shown he has the ability to do so.
Baptistella has the technical skills and vision to succeed at a high level, but his next step will be transitioning from youth to senior football. Earning minutes with Cruzeiro’s first team might be difficult due to the position he plays, but he has shown he definitely has the ability to do so. Despite his concerns physically and defensively, I think he definitely could be a player who could play in Europe. He is a unique player due to his play style and will thrive in an environment where you look to get the best out of his technical ability and IQ. He already made the bench for the first team on the final matchday of the Brasileiro 2025 season. I think he should be a player that European teams should monitor, especially due to having an Italian passport.
Note: While finishing this report, Baptistella made his professional debut and provided an assist off the bench from a corner for Cruzeiro in a 2-1 loss to Pouso Alegre.
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