Monday, 19th November, 2012
English Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United are amongst four clubs monitoring the progress of young Brazilian striker Bruno Mendes, according to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport.
Also keen on the 18-year-old are AC Milan and Juventus, with scouts from all four clubs having been watching Mendes’ progress in this year’s Brazilian top flight with great interest.
The young striker currently turns out for Botafogo and has made a real splash in the club’s first team over the last month.
Mendes has hit six goals in seven games so far, with his first coming against Gremio on 14th October.
He struck again in the next match, with the opposition this time Vasco da Gama, helping himself to a brace in a 3-2 Botafogo victory.
The 18-year-old continued his run in the next two games, scoring away at Figueirense and then at home against Atletico Goianiense.
The remarkable sequence was only halted by Palmeiras, though Mendes was back on the scoresheet in the next game, scoring in Botafogo’s 3-0 win over Portuguesa.
relatedNewsStory
While the Brazilian title has already been won by Fluminense, Mendes has helped his side move up to fifth in the standings.
His impressive form in turn means that Botafogo will only be prepared to deal for a substantial sum, with a bidding war between AC Milan, Chelsea, Juventus and Manchester United the ideal scenario for the Brazilian club.
It remains to be seen whether Mendes can continue his goalscoring feats during the remaining games of this year’s Brazilian league campaign, but the 18-year-old has already put himself on the map with Europe’s giants.
At international level the striker is already part of Brazil’s Under-20 side.
What are the tipsters at Inside Bet tipping? Find out now!
