Thiaguinho won Brazil’s Serie C with Nautico in 2019 and moved to one of the biggest club in the country, Flamengo, in 2020
Brazilian journalist and insider Guilherme Pinheiro of the Flazoeiro channel, published information on Monday night (21) that Houston Dynamo would be interested in Brazilian striker Thiago Fernandes, also known as Thiaguinho, currently at Flamengo/RJ. The Dynamo Insider profile confirmed the information shortly after and also stated that Dynamo General Manager Pat Onstad is in Brazil to handle the negotiations.
At the moment, all indications are that the American club would be interested in having the striker on loan with an option to buy. The negotiation values were not mentioned. At the beginning of the year, Thiaguinho’s name was also linked to the New England Revolution.
O Houston Dynamo, clube da MLS, demonstrou interesse na contratação do atacante Thiaguinho. A ideia é ter o atleta por empréstimo com opção de compra ao término do contrato.
Apuração com @IFlabase pic.twitter.com/fQIDQsPSkB— Flazoeiro (@CanalFlazoeiro) February 21, 2022
He moved up to professional in 2018, when he played for Nautico/BRA, a third tier team in Brazilian soccer, he was considered the main star of Nautico in 2019. Even without playing in a team with a lot of media in Brazil, Thiago won the eyes of some clubs in the country such as Flamengo, which in 2020 paid around $1 million for the player, who had a contract fee of approximately $3 million.
Because of the amount spent by Flamengo, fans created many expectations to see the player on the field but due to Flamengo’s squad being considered the most qualified in the South American continent, Thiago ended up going down to the academy again instead of staying with the first team.
Thiago started the year 2020 playing in the first team of Flamengo, since the main players were off. He played two games for the Rio de Janeiro State Championship, where Flamengo became champions. Thiago also went on a loan back to Nautico, his initial club, where he played in 16 more games in the 2020 season. The pandemic in 2020 also affected a lot so that Thiaguinho’s numbers were not the most exciting that year.
Back to Flamengo in 2021 and with national competitions back, Thiago assumed the starting position at the left wing of Flamengo’s U20, one of the most valued academies in the country that has already revealed players like Vinicius Jr. As in 2020, U20 along with Thiago replaced the professionals at the beginning of the State Championship, Thiago who, despite being a starter, did not score any goals in the 3 matches he played.
Thiago’s last games with Flamengo’s shirt were in the Flamengo state championship. He is getting ready to start the Brazilian U20 Championship that starts next month.
HOW DOES HE PLAY?
Born in 2001, Thiago started as a right-winger in Nautico. He had 5 goals in the 2019 season, leading the team to Brazil’s Serie C title. Despite his skill with his feet to dribble opponents, he is not a player who spends time with unnecessary dribbles, most of his dribbles go towards the box to attempt the goal or the cross.
In Flamengo, because of the quality of the squad, he moved to the left side of the field and stopped becoming a “scorer” to be more of a player of creation and speed on the sides of the field. Despite this, it is very common to see Thiago changing sides during games and especially coming to the middle of the field to get the ball and create plays.
HOW CAN HE IMPROVE DYNAMO’S TEAM?
It’s very difficult to say, especially since he’s still a young man without much professional experience. I don’t believe he would occupy a U22 Initiative spot, because his salary in Flamengo is reasonably low. In Nagamura’s hands, I believe he can become a player who can attack tired opponents in the second half, with speed, Thiago can break defenses with one or two dribbles and create opportunities to score.
Looking at the situation as a whole, betting on Thiago seems like a good idea because without a doubt he is a player with a lot of talent but who needs minutes on the field to show his potential.
Cover: Paula Reis/Flamengo
