Manchester City, Chelsea and Bournemouth are all tracking Cruzeiro midfielder Eduardo Pape after his performances for Brazil at the South American U17 Championship.
The 17-year-old has come out of that tournament with real momentum. According to Brazilian outlet UOL, City Football Group and Chelsea have already made enquiries, while Bournemouth are also among the clubs following his situation closely.
There is wider interest too. Atlético Madrid, Real Madrid, Monaco and Villarreal are all mentioned.
Several of those clubs had scouts in Paraguay during the competition. A club chief that attented the matches confirmed to UOL that there were conversations on the ground about the player.
“I was in Paraguay following the U17 South American Championship. I spoke with the clubs, all showed interest and said they would assess his projection. I am expecting something, at least,” he said.
Numbers driving interest
Eduardo Pape gave clubs a clear reason to look closer. He scored four goals in five matches and added an assist, finishing as one of the tournament’s top scorers. Brazil ended the competition in third place.
His goals in the South American tournament also showed variety. He scored from distance against Ecuador, converted a penalty against Venezuela, and added two headers earlier in the competition.
That output has quickly fed into expectations around his price. UOL report there is already talk of offers between €30m and €40m (£26m-£34.5m), even though he is still playing at youth level.
Cruzeiro are trying to get ahead of that. The club plans to increase their share of the player’s rights from 50% to 75%. His former side, Azuriz, would keep 20%, with the remaining 5% belonging to the player.
Profile and playing style
Eduardo Pape is still only 16, but his performances suggest a player ahead of his age. During the South American U17 Championship, he often played with the composure of someone much older.
Cruzeiro have already moved to protect that potential. The midfielder recently signed a contract running until January 2029, a clear sign of how highly he is rated internally.
On the pitch, Pape stands out for his reading of the game and passing quality. He is comfortable dictating tempo and rarely looks rushed in possession. That profile helps explain the growing interest from clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea.
At 1.86m, he adds physical presence in midfield. Still, his game is more about positioning and decision-making than pure strength. He controls space well and keeps the ball moving with simple, effective passes.
He can operate both as a deeper midfielder or in a more advanced role. Whether as a No.6 or No.8, his focus remains on efficiency and control.
Earlier this year, he was part of Cruzeiro’s Brazilian Youth Cup-winning side. Despite not being an attacker, he contributed to five goals during that run and played a key role in midfield.
What happens next
Eduardo Pape’s appearances for Cruzeiro’s U20 side will give Manchester City, Chelsea and Bournemouth more chances to assess him closely.
So far, there have been no official bids. Still, more sources close to Cruzeiro confirm that several clubs have made contact and are following his situation.
It’s fair to note that, of the three English sides mentioned, Bournemouth is the only one that has done business with Cruzeiro in recent times. Winger Luis Sinisterra is on loan at the club until June, and even though his spell did not work out as expected, there is a direct line between the two teams.
Of course, the Brazilian side remains in control for now. However, with Premier League clubs already lurking, this looks unlikely to stay quiet for long.