Player Talent Scout: Yan Couto

Manchester City have confirmed that they have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian right-back Yan Couto from Coritiba for next season. The 17 year-old was one of the stars of the 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup as his nation won the tournament on home soil.

Couto has yet to make any senior appearances for Coritiba, but his performances for Brazil U-17 alerted the attention of Barcelona and Manchester City, with the English club eventually winning the bidding war.

Although quite small, Couto is an aggressive and determined defender while his pace and dynamism allow him to cover the whole of the right flank. His all action style has earned comparisons to one of the greatest right-backs in history, his fellow countryman Dani Alves.

Dani Alves enjoyed some of his best years under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, and this was surely a factor in Yan Couto’s choice of his next club. With both Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo ahead of him in the pecking order at the Etihad, Couto may benefit from a loan move to earn the experience he needs to make the Manchester City right-back his own.

Long term he looks like he has the ability to become the long term first choice for both Manchester City and Brazil, and become the latest in a long line of world class wing-backs from Brazil.