Flávio Nazinho is a Portuguese left-back born in 2003. Developed at SC Braga and later at Sporting CP, he moved to Belgium in the summer of 2024 to join Cercle Brugge. In Flanders, he gradually accumulated minutes before establishing himself as the starting left-back at the beginning of the current season. Last season, he also made his European debut in the UEFA Conference League with his club. On the international stage, he progressed quickly through Portugal’s youth teams — U16, U18, U19, and U20 — before becoming a regular starter for the U21s, with whom he will compete in the U21 European Championship in the summer of 2025.
I have had the opportunity to watch Nazinho on several occasions, both with the Portuguese national teams and at club level. Each time, he featured in teams set up in either a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1, operating as an attack-minded full-back.
Physically, Nazinho stands at around 1.80 m and has a lean build. His contribution to the game is underpinned by strong endurance and a high work rate for a full-back, allowing him to make frequent forward runs. He is exclusively left-footed and avoids using his weaker foot, sometimes opting for less conventional areas of his left foot instead. Nazinho is particularly impressive in his ability to accelerate over just a few strides, reaching his (also quite high) top speed very quickly. His agility and acceleration allow him to defend effectively in foot races against wingers, while also enabling him to beat opposition defenders offensively.
Technically, the Portuguese full-back is comfortable on the ball, with an extended ball-carrying style reminiscent of a winger, and simple yet effective dribbling choices — sharp bursts and changes of direction. He is rarely put under pressure, as he sees relatively little of the ball in his defensive third and is far more involved in the opposition’s final third. His ball-carrying actions are predominantly forward-facing, often overlapping down the flank, but he does not hesitate to break lines by cutting inside on occasion. His passing and crossing quality are real weapons, allowing him to create danger in key areas, including the penalty box, even if some deliveries can occasionally be somewhat speculative. Defensively, despite his offensive inclination, he is very reliable, showing good timing in standing tackles, strong commitment, and intelligent positioning that enables him to intercept multiple passes.
Tactically, the full-back has already played several times as a left wing-back and could even be used as a winger given his skill set.
From a mental standpoint, the young player appears calm and reserved, communicating little on the pitch and remaining focused throughout matches.
Nazinho’s profile reminds me, to a certain extent, of Nuno Mendes. This kind of profile could fit in any T5 championship, but he could definitely shine in an offensive team that allows him to focus on this aspect of the game. I believe that Nazinho now has the level to play as a starter/rotation for an UCL or Europa League club, such as Real Betis, Bayer Leverkusen, or Olympique Lyonnais.
Target Scouting 