Pochettino shifts the goalposts on his original plans for talented Brazilian sensation next season

Mauricio Pochettino is keen to keep Angelo Gabriel at Chelsea next season

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Mauricio Pochettino has been fascinated by the performances of Angelo Gabriel in the pre-season games and now is keen to keep him on at Chelsea for next season.

The Brazilian youngster is now seen as part of the Argentine boss’s plans for the upcoming season. The forward was signed from Santos for a £14 million fee in the summer window and is touted for a bright future in the game.

Gabriel has been breaking records in the Brazilian League; the 18-year-old became the youngest player to make his debut against Fluminense at 15 years and 308 days. Surely that’s just the beginnings of his rise to superstardom.

He also set another record when he scored in the Copa Libertadores in April 2021, aged 16, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the competition.

His heroic performances intrigued Chelsea, who made a quick move for the Brazilian to land at Stamford Bridge. His performance during pre-season games seems to have paid dividends with Pochettino keen to fast track him.

Now he could have a chance to play next season after Pochettino manages to keep him. Earlier, it was decided that the Argentine manager would loan him to another club so he could get regular game time for the upcoming season.

Gabriel, who is only 18 years old, has tremendous maturity, is very nimble on his feet, and has demonstrated exceptional link-ups with Chelsea’s teammates. Noni Madueke plays on the right flank, where he would be operating from. Both are young and have shown a lot of promise as Chelsea’s future stars.

More Chelsea News

• Chelsea have launched opening bid for Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Robert Sanchez
• Moises Caicedo and his agents will ask Brighton & Hove Albion to decrease their asking price
• Following the club’s agreement to sign Axel Disasi, Trevoh Chalobah is ready to leave Chelsea

Madueke demonstrated his worth last season and will be fully prepared to become a regular starter under Pochettino in the 2023–24 season, while Gabriel could serve as a backup, given he is 18 and hasn’t played in the Premier League. This will allow the Brazilian to play and also get a reasonable amount of game time for his growth in the Premier League. Let’s wait and see, though, as we are working to get Michael Olise, who plays on the right wing, and if he is, Gabriel might be sent out on loan.