Matheus Pereira: The Glue in Cruzeiro’s High-Scoring Powerhouse
In the winter of 2023, Cruzeiro agreed to sign midfielder Matheus Pereira from Saudi club Al-Hilal on loan with hopes that he would be their technical pillar in the second half of the season. In his first appearance as a starter for the team, however, he picked up a knee injury and was out for two months.
He had some trouble reestablishing himself after his return from injury, but managed to do so at the right time. Matheus proved pivotal to the team’s final stretch in the 2023 season, helping the team avoid relegation and guarantee a spot in the 2024 Copa Sudamericana.
The 28-year-old continued his great run entering the new year, becoming Cruzeiro’s main starlet. No wonder why the Brazilian club made his move a definitive one for an estimated €5 million a year after his arrival, and it’s also not a surprise to see other big clubs’ interest in him.
Playing style
Matheus Pereira is a technical and versatile player who can play as central or attacking midfielder, as well as a wide playmaker. He operates best with the freedom to move around the pitch, looking for space, especially in central zones, to position himself in order to receive the ball.
His passing ability is one of the aspects that stands out the most in his game style. His high-quality progressive passes are key to the team’s advancement in attacking plays. Not only that, but because his short and long passes are so consistent, it’s common to see him dropping back at times and providing a calm presence in support of the build-up.
He also shows great ability to scan the pitch, which is well-grounded in his football IQ and spatial awareness. Matheus is excellent at link-up play, both in ample or reduced spaces, and in central or wide areas of the pitch. He adjusts his body movement to receive the ball, already knowing whom he’ll pass it to and the space he’s running to, aiming at receiving the ball back in a more advanced position. As a result, he covers a lot of ground.
Matheus Pereira’s heat map in the 2024 Brasileirão season
The midfielder is equally comfortable exploring the half-space and positioning himself in between the lines to receive the ball. He’s got great ability to receive the ball while in movement, either when running but also when turning his body. The feeling is that he always knows what to do before having control of the ball.
As much as Matheus is not among the best dribblers when compared to other players in similar roles, he does well in short dribble, 1v1 situations. His close control allows him to cut from his right to his preferred left foot to dribble and beat his marker to progress with the ball.
All of these aspects combine in the midfielder’s creativity. He doesn’t let his next move show and is able to fool the opposition and find runs and passes that most players wouldn’t be able to. Through balls are a trademark and add to the aspects that allow him to excel in creating shot and goal situations. Because of his ball striking ability, both in passes and shots, Matheus is usually responsible for his side’s set pieces.
Looking more closely at his shooting abilities, he likes to shoot from mid and long ranges, and his shot volume and precision aren’t relatively high. However, his ball-striking ability proves differential. He has a good rate of goals per shot on target, which highlights the quality of his finishing.
Matheus Pereira is a midfielder that brings his side creativity and composure. Versatile and mobile, he is able to operate both in counter-attack and patient progression plays. His passing and ball-striking abilities impact directly and positively his side’s attacking transitions and organization, and highlight his importance to the squad.
Eyes at the 2025 season
Cruzeiro kicks off 2025 with an aggressive approach to the transfer market. Following their runner-up finish in the Copa Sudamericana, the new directorship management, led by Pedro Lourenço, is overhauling the squad to reclaim prominence on both the national and international stage.
On the other hand, Fernando Diniz remains the team’s head coach for the new year. With more high-quality attacking options available, the coach should make some changes to his lineup. Matheus Pereira should remain a pillar for Cabuloso’s squad.
Fernando Diniz’s playing style is truly unique. Openly inspired by Pep Guardiola, the Brazilian coach has developed his own approach, characterized by build-up from the back, relying mostly on passes; positional freedom and asymmetrical play; and pressing during defensive transitions.
Diniz’s base formation since arriving at Cruzeiro has been a 4-2-3-1, with Pereira operating mostly as a central attacking-midfielder, and that’s where he should play mostly this season as well, although new signings could make Matheus play under different attributions.
Former Palmeiras winger, Dudu, and former Flamengo striker, Gabriel Barbosa, are two of the Minas Gerais club’s biggest signings this season and the expectation is that Diniz will get the duo straight into the starting lineup. Former Arsenal winger Marquinhos was also brought in as a personal request from the manager after the two worked together at Fluminense.
So, given the preferred 4-2-3-1 formation and Diniz’s initial preference for Matheus Pereira operating centrally, two major options arise. The first one would see Pereira in the second midfield line with Dudu and Gabriel on the wings, and Kaio Jorge in command of the attack. In the second one, Marquinhos would join Pereira and Dudu in the attacking midfield line, while Gabriel Barbosa operates as centre forward.
In both scenarios, the attack would be highly dynamic and of exceptional quality. Matheus could maintain his freedom to occupy spaces in the attacking half and would be creating opportunities for widely recognized prolific strikers.
However, experienced midfielder Eduardo is another reinforcement Cruzeiro brought in this January. With Eduardo’s introduction into the team, Diniz could push Matheus to the right wing. Both Dudu and Maquinhos could be deployed in the left wing, with Gabriel Barbosa and Kaio Jorge being options up front.
As mentioned earlier, playing on the right flank wouldn’t be new for Cabuloso’s number 10. He feels comfortable operating on the right wing, where he can also leverage his creative abilities. As a playmaking winger, he supports build-up play and ensures dynamism in attack. Furthermore, he benefits from the opportunity to cut inside onto his favored left foot, aiming for shots from the edge of the box.
Some other possibilities open up when thinking about the possibility of Diniz switching his formation to a 4-3-1-2, without wingers providing width:
- Matheus could be one of the three men in central midfield, holding the responsibility to support attacking play from a deeper position, but still being able to advance further up the attacking half.
- Matheus could be deployed as the sole attacking midfielder, operating as the classic number 10. In this role, his playmaking skills would serve greatly for the striking duo. Kaio Jorge, Gabriel Barbosa, Dudu, Lautaro Díaz and Yannick Bolasie (another Cruzeiro January signing) provide great attacking depth and endless combinations for the two-men attacking line.
Conclusion
Matheus Pereira enters his second full season in Brazil at the top of his game and with great expectations, not only at an individual level, but at a collective one as well.
Cruzeiro have brought in some important names to strengthen their side. Because of that, Pereira’s importance grows as a technical leader in the team. His playmaking ability and decision-making are set to be key to the team’s build-up and attacking play, especially with the number of quality strikers available. It’s hard not to see Matheus’ influence and output not increasing this season.
Even though Cruzeiro has made it clear that prying their main man away from the club won’t be an easy task, the competition won’t give up easily. Matheus Pereira has proven to be the type of player who elevates the level of any team, and if Cruzeiro fails to translate their investments into success on the field, the midfielder might be tempted by a move. Many are watching closely and will rightly continue to do so.
By: Nathalia Tavares / @tavaresnthl
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Gledston Tavares / AFP