Holder of the under-20 national team, defender started as striker at Athletico

The Brazilian National Team started the South American South American dispute this Friday (24) with the defender Arthur Diaswhich is one of the promises of Athletico. The ownership is a great achievement, since the defender is only 17 years old, that is, it is three years “advanced”.

Coach Rodrigo Bellão, fired from Hurricane in December, was exclusive to the Adois Sports what Arthur began the base as a striker.

“It’s a boy who was a center forward of the U15 and had no future. Everyone wanted to send away and thought it was crazy. I ended up not releasing because I saw potential as a defender. After changing his life, he exploded,” Bellão recalls, “recalls Bellão .

In five years at Athletico, Bellão It started as a youth coach and ended as a main team assistant. In other words, he participated in the evolution of the main promises, such as striker Emersonn, sold to Turkey, and midfielder João Cruz, Hurricane’s holder today.

The coach says revelation of Arthur Dias as a defender has happened throughout training. The player, still under-15, had more talent to disarm than attacking.

“It was funny. It was not a unique decision, it was throughout the process. He had difficulties as a striker and I do a lot of 1×1 work, which everyone attacks and defends. Arthur was a better marker than striker. He has a lot of strength,” says the former coach.

However, the player himself did not accept the change in the first moment. He was convinced to work in new positions and needed a difficult conversation with the then technician.

“I couldn’t put straight as a defender. I pulled to the tip, then side and then defender. Even side went well, to turn a defender he asked to leave. Then I sat alone with him and talked. He tells the story: ‘I don’t know That the Bellão spoke to me, but that day he changed my life, ‘”says Bellão proudly.

Luiz Felipe Scolari was hired as Athletico coach in 2022 and became a director the following year. During this period, the five -time world champion coach Arthur Dias well evaluated.

“I saw a future Brazilian team, playing in the professional. That lit a flame in him. It was the year [da mudança de posição] that Felipão was and started to like him a lot. I said jokingly: ‘Imagine really trainee’. He grew up, exploded and was summoned in the same year, “he recalls.

Despite the quality that has been consolidating each step in the categories, Arthur Dias is still a little distant from establishing himself in the professional team of Hurricane. Remember that Athletico has been looking for, since 2024, a name of the position.

To top it off, Rodrigo Bellão also made the comparison of Arthur Dias with Murillo, a 22 -year -old defender who advocates England’s Nottingham Forest. In addition to being one of the highlights of the current English championship, in which Forest is third, he is already the target of Real Madrid, Barcelona and Liverpool.

“Arthur has a very strong mindset and great potential. He is a left -handed and uses his right leg well. He reminds me a lot of Murillo. He was Corinthians assistant when they approved him. I worked with both and I see with the similar characteristics,” completed Bellão.