Next Brazilian superstar?
©TM/IMAGO
Ryan Roberto is widely regarded as one of the most talented emerging talents in Brazil and several European giants are monitoring his development closely. The 17-year-old has yet to make his professional debut but he’s earned a glowing reputation due to his performances in Flamengo’s academy. Roberto has scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in just 33 games for Flamengo’s U17 team in 2025 to cement his wonderkid reputation.
Roberto moved to Flamengo from Athletico Paranaense in 2023 but the Curitiba club still owns 50% of his rights. Flamengo reportedly have an option to buy about another 20% of his rights from Paranaense and that would be a shrewd decision given his potential. Respected Brazilian outlet Globo have reported that Barcelona and Ajax hold a serious interest in the talented winger. And reports in Spain suggest that Barca have already approached Flamengo to ascertain their asking price and demands. Roberto remains an unknown quality but Thiago Rabelo, Transfermarkt’s Brazilian football expert and respected journalist, has provided fascinating insight into the Flamengo wonderkid.
Who is Ryan Roberto? Expert Brazilian insight
Flamengo’s record sale is Vinicius Junior’s €45 million move to Real Madrid in 2018 and Rabelo believes Roberto is the best prospect to emerge through the Rio de Janeiro club’s academy since the Brazilian superstar. “Ryan Roberto is the most promising player to emerge from Flamengo’s youth academy since Vinicius Junior, but their stories are quite different,” Rabelo said. “While Vinicius was considered the most promising player in Brazilian football in years since he was 12, Ryan began to gain attention in 2023, when he left Athletico Paranaense for Flamengo.
“On the pitch they are also quite different. Ryan has a style more similar to Neymar, with dribbling in short spaces, not at speed, like Vinicius Junior. He is very good at dribbling, it’s his best quality and he’s very good at 1v1. Due to the high investment in the professional team, Ryan hasn’t been considered for the first team, but Flamengo is working to ensure this begins next year. Ryan isn’t a mature player, he still needs to improve a lot. I’m not sure if he is the right profile for Barcelona. Maybe in the future.”
Will Ryan Roberto leave this summer?
Due to the complex nature of Roberto’s ownership with Athletico Paranense still possessing a 50% stake, Barcelona’s pursuit of the winger has added complications. The interest from the LaLiga giants, however, is serious and Premier League clubs are also monitoring his availability. Vinicius Jr provides the perfect example of Spanish clubs signing talented South American youngsters early but Flamengo are under no pressure to sell, as Rabelo explains. “Flamengo has not discussed any value for him, but considering the way the club is managed and also because of its financial health,” Rabelo added. “I believe he will not leave for less than €15-20m. Flamengo is the richest club in Brazil and America, they are a hard seller, a club that doesn’t need to sell young players to save its finances.”