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3 opposing players to watch in Chelsea’s Champions League group

By Akshat Mehrish

BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 08: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Federico Chiesa of Juventus during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff on August 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 08: Jordi Alba of FC Barcelona competes for the ball with Federico Chiesa of Juventus during the Joan Gamper Trophy match between FC Barcelona and Juventus at Estadi Johan Cruyff on August 08, 2021 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Pedro Salado/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 07: Claudinho Rodrigues of Team Brazil runs with the ball under pressure from Oscar Garcia of Team Spain during the Men’s Gold Medal Match between Team Brazil and Team Spain on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN – AUGUST 07: Claudinho Rodrigues of Team Brazil runs with the ball under pressure from Oscar Garcia of Team Spain during the Men’s Gold Medal Match between Team Brazil and Team Spain on day fifteen of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at International Stadium Yokohama on August 07, 2021 in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

2. Claudinho (Zenit Saint Petersburg)

Age: 24

Position: Central attacking midfielder or second striker

Nationality: Brazil

Achievements (Individual): ESPN Bola de Ouro Award Best Player 2020, ESPN Bola de Prata Award Best Newcomer 2020, ESPN Bola de Prata Award Best Midfielder 2020, Brasileirao Best Player 2020, Brasileirao Best Newcomer 2020, Brasileirao Best Midfielder 2020, Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A Top Scorer 2020

Did you know? A journeyman early in his career, Claudinho played for seven different Brazilian clubs before turning 21: Santos, Corinthians, Bragantino, Santo Andre, Ponte Preta, Red Bull Brasil and Oeste. He also won the gold medal with Brazil at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

In the context of Brazilian football, Claudinho is a late bloomer. In a country where talents as young as 18 and 19 are swept away by the riches of Europe, Claudinho secured his move across the Atlantic at the age of 24. He only arrived on the scene in 2019, when he tore up Brazilian Serie B with incredible returns for Red Bull Bragantino. However, it was in his second season he started attracting admiring glances from Europe.

Claudinho was the best player in Brazil’s top division in 2020. The attacking midfielder was the top scorer in the competition with 18 goals and six assists. Despite his team finishing 10th, the youngster was named the league’s best player, best midfielder and best newcomer in two separate awards. Links to sister club RB Leipzig emerged last season, but it was Zenit Saint Petersburg who beat the competition to secure his signing. The Russian club presented him to the world with a rendition of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights.


The 24-year-old is an exciting player to watch. While he is often classified as an attacking midfielder or a second striker, one will often find him drifting into space, out on the flanks or in between the lines. He is a skillful player who often uses his touch and ingenuity to escape pressure from opposing defenders. Furthermore, his creativity and vision enable him to thread passes through to his teammates in dangerous positions, while he has a knack for getting in those positions himself—predicated by his 24 goal contributions in Brazilian Serie A last season.

Claudinho should be a joy to watch for Chelsea fans, as long as he doesn’t personally turn that joy into despair for the Blues.

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