André Trindade, The Little Giant

Insight on André Trindade’s history, playstyle, and possible destinations...

Everything on André started here, in 2013, his current teacher wished the best for him "ANDRE. My student going to Rio de Janeiro to play in a test in the Fluminense's youngsters. I wish you the best luck, we'll be here cheering for you!!! May God go with you".

He's started to play in Fluminense's youngsters as a #9, but he didn't get any chances and started to play as a #10, he started playing closer to the defense, became a #8, and at last he became a #6, where he could play, and become a leader and captain in Fluminense's youngsters.

His first games on the professional team were not that good, he was almost loaned to smaller clubs in Brazil to get more experience, but the current starter defensive midfielder got injured, and then he started playing.

In 2021 he was elected the surprise player of the Campeonato Brasileiro, he was 20 years old! In 2022 he started already as a starter and one of the technical leaders of the team, was a main player of the team, Fluminense won the Campeonato Carioca against Flamengo, and helped Fluminense to end the Campeonato Brasileiro in 3rd place. Yet in 2023 André was called by the Fluminense's national team, and won Campeonato Carioca against Flamengo(again), got his first 2 National team call-ups, and his debut, and kept on what he's doing and amazing the world.

Since May of 2022, Fluminense's coach is Fernando Diniz, a coach that values ball possession and passing the ball, attracting pressure and providing number superiority in offense, what really helped André. Extra on Diniz, perhaps he values ball possession, his game is the opposite of Pep's style, his game is relational, and the players don't have to be attached exactly in that position, that's why André isn't always as a #6 with the ball possession, and people think he's a #8. Just to clarify it again, André has never played as a #8 in his professional career, he's not a Thiago replacement, he's more defensive. André’s like a mix of Kimmich and Kanté.

He's the best defensive midfielder in Brazil, nice dribble, press resistant, extraordinary pass completion rate, he's ready to play in Europe. In some Fluminense games, when Diniz needs to obtain results, he takes off one of the centre backs, put André as a centre back (even he's only 1.76m tall), puts another defensive midfielder, and gets a better first phase, rarely it doesn't work, most of the time it works.

Just one addition, André has awesome ball recovery numbers, but for you to have a good measure, he plays in a team with about 60% of average ball possession, so just think about it, the team passes the most time with the ball, and even like that, he has awesome ball recovery numbers, and over 90% pass completion rate, so he is really good with and without the ball.

Temperament can be considered a little problem, his card numbers:
2023 - 10 yellow cards - 1 game 2 yellow cards - 1 straight red card - in 2983min
2022 - 17 yellow cards - 1 game 2 yellow cards - in 5227min
2021 - 7 yellow cards - in 2430min
2020 - 2 yellow cards - in 276min
He’s missed 9 games for suspension in 10916min.

Unfortunately for the Fluminense Fans, it's possible that he leaves us, if it's this transfer window, or the next, and I decided to simulate the possible destinations for him.

The possible starting 11 of Barcelona with André and FDJ as the double pivot, André is a creative #6 and can be a replacement for Busquets. A midfield consisting of André, FDJ, Pedri and Gundogan. Good creatively and defensively.

The possible starting 11 with Liverpool with André and Trent as the double pivot. High level of pressing, defending, and creativity.

The possible 11 of Fulham with André, Palhinha, and Andreas Pereira in midfield. Good midfield, good defensively and offensively. André, in this case, will have to play as a #8, that he’s only played in the Youth Academy.

The possible 11 of Manchester United with Bruno, Casemiro, and André is the most defensive ones. Such a consistent midfield, complete, defensive, and creative. But in this case, André would have to change his position to a #8, he's never played this position as a pro, I think he can be adapted.

My opinion: The best match for him sportingly is Liverpool, his intensity and quality pass is the kind of thing that'll make him a nice replacement for Fabinho. Barcelona is also good sportingly, but I think they don't have the money to enter this run. Chelsea would also be a good option as they don’t have one good option of #6, they’re trying to Stack #8’s and #10’s, their squad is too full, but don’t have one good #6. United is a NICE option for him sportingly if he adapt to the #8 position, he’ll have Casemiro to teach him as an older brother, and Ten Hag liked him. Fulham is in MY OPINION a worse option of them, because he’d have to adapt to the #8 position, and it's a mid-table team.

André’s replacement in Fluminense will probably will happen with the help of two players, Matheus Martinelli and Alexsander Gomes, they’re both awesome players, and someday Alexsander can get to the same level as André, but Alexsander is even more versatile than André.

Just to finish, as a message for his teacher: everything is alright, everything is alright with your boy, he’s already played for the National Team, became a World Class Player, and he’ll leave Brazil to play for a big European Club.

✍️   João Guilherme Ribeiro Brandão