The Lab | From Santos Chaos To Spurs Madness: Why Joao Souza’s Mentality Will Be Huge

“Brazilian fans are brutal… the training ground is being invaded… any kind of malcontent he will see in N17, he’s already been through it all in Santos.” We’re joined by South American football expert Tim Vickery as Spurs close in on 19-year-old Santos left-back Joao Souza. Tim explains why fans feel trepidation about South American imports, then makes the case for why this one’s different: Souza came through a brutal relegation scrap with training-ground invasions and still stood out because he doesn’t hide. We talk rawness vs readiness, how he compares to Udogie, what his game looks like (driving runs, cutting in or going outside, low deliveries), and whether Spurs should throw him in immediately. Plus Brazil’s wider issues at full-back and central midfield, and a big Richarlison chat about Ancelotti, and criticism in Brazil.

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