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Ryan Roberto is widely regarded as one of the most talented emerging talents in Brazil and several European giants are monitoring his development closely. The 17-year-old has yet to make his professional debut but he’s earned a glowing reputation due to his performances in Flamengo’s academy. Roberto has scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in just 33 games for Flamengo’s U17 team in 2025 to cement his wonderkid reputation.

Roberto moved to Flamengo from Athletico Paranaense in 2023 but the Curitiba club still owns 50% of his rights. Flamengo reportedly have an option to buy about another 20% of his rights from Paranaense and that would be a shrewd decision given his potential. Respected Brazilian outlet Globo have reported that Barcelona and Ajax hold a serious interest in the talented winger. And reports in Spain suggest that Barca have already approached Flamengo to ascertain their asking price and demands. Roberto remains an unknown quality but Thiago Rabelo, Transfermarkt’s Brazilian football expert and respected journalist, has provided fascinating insight into the Flamengo wonderkid.

Flamengo’s record sale is Vinicius Junior’s €45 million move to Real Madrid in 2018 and Rabelo believes Roberto is the best prospect to emerge through the Rio de Janeiro club’s academy since the Brazilian superstar. “Ryan Roberto is the most promising player to emerge from Flamengo's youth academy since Vinicius Junior, but their stories are quite different,” Rabelo said. “While Vinicius was considered the most promising player in Brazilian football in years since he was 12, Ryan began to gain attention in 2023, when he left Athletico Paranaense for Flamengo.