Napoli lost its main defensive player, Kim Min-jae, after his sensational 2022/23 season in last summer transfer window, becoming the new Bayern Munchen defensive reinforcement. That left an important hole to cover in the current Serie A champions defensive line, which the italian sports direction decided to supply by signing up a promising Center back from Brazilian side Bragantino.
Natan, born 06/01/2001 in Itapecerica da Serra is a 22 years old defender who has developed all his short football career playing on his home country's different football teams. Product of Flamengo academy, he early entered Red Bull factory radars, leading into a move to Brazilian RB side Bragantino, despite keeping on playing on loan for Flamengo side. Couple of years on, Natan achieved the potential expected, becoming one of the main defensive players in Brazil and catching the attention of many top clubs around the world.
Natan, being left-footed, mainly starts as left center back, but can perform on both sides and even as full back on the left side. He possesses a quite complete defender profile, mixing the modern ball playing and old school rocky defender, having potential to be dominant in all phases of the game.
Natan is a versatile player who can perfectly fit on a high pressing squad or low/medium block, as he possesses great zone coverage, being aware of rivals positioning and movements, but is also pacy to recover meters to his back and defend in open space. His tactical intelligence is good, having a great game lecture. That allows him to anticipate opponents or intercept plays, but manages great defensive actions, showing great maturity by not being too risky when leaving the defensive line. When having to leave his position to harass his target, he is dominant and strong, feeling comfortable in contact situations. He follows his man bravely, not allowing him to turn around, timing the play and allowing his teammates to fold back, cutting the rival team´s progression, being also clever to make small tactical fouls if necessary. When defending in low zones, he imposes himself above all the defensive line, having great command of area, good positioning and orientation, ability to fastly close spaces and being a great nuisance for attackers, barely losing forward marks.
His physical attributes are another important aspect of his game, allowing to take advantage in many situations. As mentioned, his pace allows him to recover metters, not only backwards in transitions but also laterally, making quick coverages to full backs, allowing them to have an active involvement in high attacking sequences. His physicality helps him to be dominant in both ground and aerial duels, as he is 188cm tall and has a good body mass ratio. Despite those characteristics he shows averaged coordination and agility, shown on his ability and good timing for sliding or standing tackles. With huge levels of strength he uses his body well in dead balls and when facing rivals in one-on-one situations, characterizing his defensive actions by toughness and hardness on the ball and rival, without being a really foul committer player.
Not only defensively, he possesses high value for his team on the ball. Despite not being the most skilled central defender, his technical attributes are quite good, standing out for his calmness under pressure and his high quality and mature decision making. He possesses accurate passing, controlling different range passing, which added to his good vision allows his team to have a strong build up. Starting from his own goal, he can calmly recycle possession by playing save lateral passes or link up with second line free midfielders, having the personality to filter vertical progressive passes. He also possesses great long range passing, being able to activate attackers in transition providing a more direct high-tempo and vertical alternatives, being able to adapt to both possession based or direct style of playing. When feeling underpressure he does not hesitate to try to break lines and surpass rivals by forward ball carries. Powerful on the ball, and having ability to protect it by his use of body, he is almost unstoppable when powerfully advancing forward, being intelligent to fix defenders and divide in opposite half, finding the best free option to progress. When attacking, he is also an important player to take into account in the rival penalty area as his size and aerial game make him a clear target of offensive set pieces.
Natan is a clear example of a present and future defender, being a great and reliable replacement for the departure of Kim Min-jae. Having great attributes in both defensive and attacking phases, is a defender with huge potential who may become a key element of the defensive line, performing at the highest level for the coming years.
Click here to see full scouting report
Natan, born 06/01/2001 in Itapecerica da Serra is a 22 years old defender who has developed all his short football career playing on his home country's different football teams. Product of Flamengo academy, he early entered Red Bull factory radars, leading into a move to Brazilian RB side Bragantino, despite keeping on playing on loan for Flamengo side. Couple of years on, Natan achieved the potential expected, becoming one of the main defensive players in Brazil and catching the attention of many top clubs around the world.
Natan, being left-footed, mainly starts as left center back, but can perform on both sides and even as full back on the left side. He possesses a quite complete defender profile, mixing the modern ball playing and old school rocky defender, having potential to be dominant in all phases of the game.
Natan is a versatile player who can perfectly fit on a high pressing squad or low/medium block, as he possesses great zone coverage, being aware of rivals positioning and movements, but is also pacy to recover meters to his back and defend in open space. His tactical intelligence is good, having a great game lecture. That allows him to anticipate opponents or intercept plays, but manages great defensive actions, showing great maturity by not being too risky when leaving the defensive line. When having to leave his position to harass his target, he is dominant and strong, feeling comfortable in contact situations. He follows his man bravely, not allowing him to turn around, timing the play and allowing his teammates to fold back, cutting the rival team´s progression, being also clever to make small tactical fouls if necessary. When defending in low zones, he imposes himself above all the defensive line, having great command of area, good positioning and orientation, ability to fastly close spaces and being a great nuisance for attackers, barely losing forward marks.
His physical attributes are another important aspect of his game, allowing to take advantage in many situations. As mentioned, his pace allows him to recover metters, not only backwards in transitions but also laterally, making quick coverages to full backs, allowing them to have an active involvement in high attacking sequences. His physicality helps him to be dominant in both ground and aerial duels, as he is 188cm tall and has a good body mass ratio. Despite those characteristics he shows averaged coordination and agility, shown on his ability and good timing for sliding or standing tackles. With huge levels of strength he uses his body well in dead balls and when facing rivals in one-on-one situations, characterizing his defensive actions by toughness and hardness on the ball and rival, without being a really foul committer player.
Not only defensively, he possesses high value for his team on the ball. Despite not being the most skilled central defender, his technical attributes are quite good, standing out for his calmness under pressure and his high quality and mature decision making. He possesses accurate passing, controlling different range passing, which added to his good vision allows his team to have a strong build up. Starting from his own goal, he can calmly recycle possession by playing save lateral passes or link up with second line free midfielders, having the personality to filter vertical progressive passes. He also possesses great long range passing, being able to activate attackers in transition providing a more direct high-tempo and vertical alternatives, being able to adapt to both possession based or direct style of playing. When feeling underpressure he does not hesitate to try to break lines and surpass rivals by forward ball carries. Powerful on the ball, and having ability to protect it by his use of body, he is almost unstoppable when powerfully advancing forward, being intelligent to fix defenders and divide in opposite half, finding the best free option to progress. When attacking, he is also an important player to take into account in the rival penalty area as his size and aerial game make him a clear target of offensive set pieces.
Natan is a clear example of a present and future defender, being a great and reliable replacement for the departure of Kim Min-jae. Having great attributes in both defensive and attacking phases, is a defender with huge potential who may become a key element of the defensive line, performing at the highest level for the coming years.
Click here to see full scouting report