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Mateus Fernandes: Shining the Spotlight on Southampton’s Portuguese Midfielder

September 26, 2024
Player Analysis, Transfer Analysis, Premier League Analysis

Sporting Clube de Portugal have produced the Matheus Nunes regen, when Matheus has hardly started ‘Matheusing’. Remove the H and you get Mateus, and he is Him – arguably the more rounded midfield talent. An all-action number 8 with elite physical attributes and technical resources.

 

An overall fee of €20 million may become business that Sporting come to regret – the uncomfortable compromise of parting ways with one of the Academia Cristiano Ronaldo’s brightest prospects to retain key figures such as Pedro Gonçalves, Gonçalo Inácio, Morten Hjulmand and of course, Viktor Gyökeres. A real coup for Southampton, which paid off immediately on his full debut.

 

After coming off the bench in their 1-0 loss to Nottingham Forest, Fernandes started in midfield and grabbed a goal and an assist to lead Saints past Cardiff City in the EFL Cup, before replacing Will Smallbone at halftime in their following match vs. Brentford. Far from known for his finishing, but an extremely competent and promising ball striker, Mateus Gonçalo Espanha Fernandes has what it takes to play a major role for Southampton this season in their return to the top-flight.

 

 

 

 

He would make his first Premier League start vs. Manchester United, going up against another ex Sporting midfielder with the last name of Fernandes, but whilst Bruno came away with the three points, Mateus’ team suffered a 3-0 humbling at home. Fernandes, who turned 20 in July, replaced Adam Lallana at the interval in their following match, where they managed to achieve a brief respite from their domestic struggles by edging Everton 6-5 in a penalty shootout in the EFL Cup.

 

Southampton took the lead within five minutes on Saturday and looked set for their first win of the campaign when Joe Aribo came on for Fernandes in the 91st minute, but Sam Morsy would level things up in the final seconds to snatch an improbable point for Ipswich. They currently occupy the relegation zone after five games played and sit level on 1 point with Everton, who also ended their losing streak this weekend, and Wolves, and they’ll be counting on Fernandes as they look to avoid an immediate return to the Championship.

 

From the south coast of Portugal to the south coast of England – everything began with Mateus’ local side Olhanense. Six years in the Algarve to be scouted at the age of 12 and subsequently, promptly joined the prestigious Sporting academy in 2016 where the resilient, combative yet elegant midfielder would excel. In 2021, while only 17 years old, Mateus was promoted to the Sporting B team for the next significant step in his journey, in the Portuguese third division (Liga 3) for his first taste of competitive senior football.

 

Southampton – The Red and White Remontada

 

Outgrowing even the Under-23s. This rapid ascension would only accelerate as Mateus made 18 appearances in his debut season, replicating the same feat the following season while contributing to seven goals along the way, catching the eyes of senior team manager Rúben Amorim.

 

In 2022, the then 18-year-old was called up to pre-season training camp. As always, he would stand out for his aggressive, intense style without the ball and confident, positive actions in possession. Equally to follow in the 2022/23 season:

 

  • Making his first-team debut in a 3-1 win over Casa Pia
  • Seven appearances including his UEFA Champions League and Europa League debuts
  • Reaching the UEFA Youth League semi-finals

 

Not bad for his first season as a senior professional.

 

Taylor Harwood-Bellis: The Rising Star Set for the Premier League

 

Mateus demonstrated that he was ready for regular top-level minutes, and a loan to Estoril Praia proved to be vital for his development in the 2023/24 campaign. At the ‘Canarinhos’, Mateus went from a physical specimen at youth level to senior level with an impressive transformation. 

 

The entire experience was a transformation of reality. Going from Liga 3 to the Liga Portugal Betclic, a developmental squad to the reality of fighting for survival, from playing as the advanced creator in Filipe Celikkaya’s three-man midfield to Estoril’s system with two midfielders, a closer replication to Amorim’s system at Sporting which implemented sensibility and higher responsibility into Mateus’ overall play, maturing the midfielder exponentially.

 

Fernandes was always capable of covering ground with real intensity, dominating ground duels in advanced zones or deeper defensive blocks. Over the last year, Mateus has averaged the following defensive numbers (via FBRef). A stubborn dueller with the body composition to dominate alongside cerebral partners.

 

Photo: FBRef

 

Then offensively, silky close-control and ignorant robustness under pressure coupled with impressive long strides to glide away from opposition with ease, creating an unstoppable carrier with the variety, vision and ability to execute any and every pass in the final third.

 

 

Almost four shot-creating actions, two key passes, five progressive passes, three progressive carries and three fouls drawn per 90 minutes for an unstable Estoril side facing the prospect of relegation. Elite numbers in a reality where such numbers should not be feasible.

 

Mateus impressed as he unapologetically shone while his IQ grew with the eventuality of real consequence in the inevitability of failure in unindicated context. Improving his communication, coordination, positioning and decision-making while shining in transportation, duelling and creation.

 

35 appearances for Estoril including a Allianz (League) Cup final. Invaluable. As a result, many Sportinguistas were anxious to witness Fernandes in Sporting’s dynamic, vertical and dominating side with lesser, deeper defensive responsibilities, but Mateus’ dreams lied in England.

 

 

“For all players it’s a dream to come to England,” the Portuguese youth international said after swapping the Primeira Liga for the Premier League. Fernandes has already represented the Seleção at the U18, U19, U20 and U21 level, and if he can use this opportunity to make a name for himself in the Premier League, he might just be able to convince Roberto Martínez of giving him a look ahead of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

 

Former manager Vasco Seabra has praised the 20-year-old for this ‘humility and eagerness to learn’ while Rúben Amorim has compared Mateus with Portuguese international Pedro Gonçalves. If Fernandes continues on this current trajectory, the sky is truly the limit for this extremely talented and rounded midfield prospect.

 

By: Kevin Araujo Fernandes / @kevinaraujof

Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Ben Peters / MB Media / Getty Images

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