Daniel Jr – Cruzeiro’s connective attacker

Daniel de Melo Araujo Junior, Daniel Melo or Daniel Jr (which he is mostly known by) has had a whirlwind year as he was an Under 20 player and a teenager at the beginning of the year as his partner was pregnant. His partner devastatingly suffered a miscarriage as the 20-year-old would have to grieve while being her support system as he was negotiating a new contract with Cruzeiro. The Brazilian side recently purchased by Ronaldo had been spurned by Vitor Roque moving to Athletico Paranaense as they responded to Daniel Jr turning down a new contract by demoting him to the Under 20s. The youngster was on the rise after impressive outings in Mineiro State Championship while recently he has become a starter for Cruzeiro as they lead Serie B and seek a long-awaited return to the Brasiliero Serie A.

Daniel Jr only joined from the Palmeiras academy last year as he was a leading player with the Under 20 side and is now a fully-fledged first team player, extending his contract till the end of 2025. He is not the mercurial wide player that you would normally associate with Brazil as his game is more modern and more about intelligently moving into spaces in the final third to receive possession, connect play and orchestrate moves in the final third to create shooting opportunities for himself and teammates. He is more likely to be found in the half-space rather than the wide areas, tucking inside to receive deep passes from the centre-backs, acting as a conduit in build-up play and an architect in the final third. The 20-year-old does have ball-carrying ability as he receives possession in between the lines to turn and surge forward, striding past opposition players to drive the ball forward before releasing the ball into space to create a shooting opportunity for a teammate.

For the Cruzeiro Under 20 side, he occupied a variety of positions, playing as a central attacking playmaker, second striker as well as on both flanks as the intelligence of his movement and combination play makes him a different type of playmaker from the more conventional sense. Against the Sao Paulo Under 20 side, he would move into the right half-space while the ball was on the right flank, holding a position in the ten space to receive the ball and play a one-touch pass into the box for a teammate to have a shot on goal. In the build-up phase, Daniel Jr is not only essential because of his ability as a ball-carrier but also because he is an effective ball-carrier as he would drop into the eight space, receiving possession to turn and skip past a defender to drive the ball forward and attract defenders before releasing possession to a teammate on the left flank who could drive into the box and have a shooting opportunity. He created another opportunity when he received possession in the ten space on the counter-attack to stride forward before playing a perfectly weighted through ball for a teammate to drive into the box and have a shot saved.

At home to Botafogo, he was perfectly positioned to receive a cut-back at the top of the box from Igor Lemos to take the touch and apply the finish with aplomb before he would receive possession in the ten space, allowing the ball to roll across his body to shield the ball from a defender before spreading a pass to the opposite flank and moving into the half-space. A fullback made an underlapping run so Daniel Jr decided to hold his position in the half-space to receive possession and play the ball to the fullback to lay-off for a teammate to have a shot on goal. He received a lay-off from a goal-kick to work a one-two with a teammate to drive the ball forward and spread a pass to the left flank as he consistently makes unmarking movements and occupies spaces in the final third to receive possession and work essential passing moves. Another facet of his game that makes him so effective at receiving possession in between the lines is his first touch as he controlled a high ball perfectly with his first touch while surrounded by three opposition players to flick a nonchalant pass to a teammate on the flank.

On the counter-attack, he received possession on the right flank to play a delicate disguised pass to a runner who had a shot on goal as the 20-year-old has a terrific intuition for movement and spacing while being able to angle and weight passes phenomenally through tight lines, making difficult manoeuvres seem arbitrary. Daniel Jr received possession in the ten space once more to shield the ball and work a pass to the flank before moving into the half-space where he received possession once more to elegantly flick the ball over the head of a defender and cut-back a cross to a teammate who had his opportunity blocked. After Cruzeiro made a turnover in the defensive phase as the 20-year-old dropped into space to receive possession to play a one-touch pass with the outside of his left boot to a teammate making a run into the channels. He was positioned in a central striking role in a front two that just allowed him to deep and float into space as this was essential in him working connections and driving his team forward.

Daniel Jr dropped deep to regain possession in the defensive phase before driving forward and losing possession as this is an issue in his game, holding the ball for too long instead of releasing the ball as this causes him to lose possession in his own half as well as the opposition half. His game is extremely proficient when he is receiving the ball in tight spaces and releasing the ball quickly as he would drop into the midfield line to receive possession once more, controlling the ball with his left foot to guide the ball to his right foot before working a pass to a runner to connect a counter-attacking move. In another situation, he moved into the right half-space, receiving possession from his winger to play a one-touch pass back to him and move into space in the box as the winger cut-back for a teammate to send a shot over the bar. He attempted a cross into the box from a free-kick before regaining possession, driving the ball to the flank before attempting a dribble as he lost possession and instantly regained the ball before driving the ball into the box and cutting back a cross to the top of the box for a teammate to have his shot saved.

Daniel Jr is immensely effective in receiving the ball in between the lines and easing transition as he can move into space while he continuously allows the ball to roll across his body, so he can turn into space and drive the ball forward with conviction. Cruzeiro would regain possession in the deeper areas, allowing Daniel Jr to move into space and receive possession in between the lines, swivelling towards the centre to guide the ball to his stronger to his weaker right foot to evade a marker before cutting to his left foot and sending a shot wide from the top of the box. He utilized the same manoeuvre, receiving possession and turning inside to prod a pass for a teammate who laid the ball off to him for the 20-year-old to poke a pass to another teammate and make a run into the box where the return pass was intercepted at the last moment. His combination and movement nearly allowed him to create a high-quality shooting opportunity for himself inside the box which is a constant in his game.

Away to the Flamengo U20 side, he made a run to the right flank to receive possession, cutting past his man to drive inside and play a line-breaking pass to the nine-space. After a turnover, he would drive the ball forward before swivelling to play a one-two with a teammate as he drove the ball into the right half-space to spread the ball to the flank for a cross into the box which was cleared for Daniel Jr to receive possession once more, holding possession to turn out of a challenge and play another pass to the half-space before receiving possession to drive past two players and cut-back for a teammate to have a shot blocked in the box. At home to Corinthians’ U20 side, he received possession in the opposition half, spreading the ball to the flank, the ball would be played back to the deeper areas for Daniel Jr to side-step twice to the centre to his defender’s blind-side before making a movement towards the flank where a deep pass was played in between the lines and he was in the perfect position to receive a flick-on, which was just behind him denying him the opportunity to drive into the box, as he turned away from three defenders and switched a pass to the opposite flank.

He received possession in the ten space once more, rolling the ball through the legs of an opposition defender, cutting past a second defender and driving the ball forward, cutting past a second defender to maintain possession and work a one-two with a striker whose return pass was too heavy as he was unable to take a shot. Daniel Jr then dropped into the eight space to receive a pass, working combinations with his fullback before making an unmarking movement to receive a lay-off and drive the ball in between the lines to poke a pass to a teammate. In a home match against the Sao Paulo Under 20s, he received a pass in the ten space to turn away from a defender and attempt a lobbed pass in behind which was intercepted. He then switched a pass from the left flank to the right before receiving possession on the counter to drive into the opposition half and win a foul. The 20-year-old controlled a high ball phenomenally to flick a pass to a teammate who had a shot blocked from range as he had another phenomenal first touch to control a lobbed pass and lay-off the ball to a teammate.

In the Mineiro State Championship at home to Vila Nova, he skipped away from a defender before turning to play a back-pass before dropping deep to work a one-two with his wing-back who squared a cross into the box for a shot to be blocked as Vitor Roque hammered home the strike at the back-post. Daniel Jr tucked into the centre to receive possession, drive forward and hold the ball to send a shot wide from range. The 20-year-old received possession on the left flank to drive the ball forward and play a vertical pass to the ten space before making a vertical run into the box to cut-back a cross which was cleared. Daniel Jr’ combination play allows him to get into high-level shooting and crossing situations as he received possession on the left flank once more, working a one-two to evade a marker before trying to beat another defender as he was clotheslined on his way into the box.

Away to the current Brazilian Champions, Atletico Mineiro, he received possession in the left half-space to take a touch and play a lay-off into the wide areas. After an opposition corner, he received a deflection outside his own box to drive the ball forward and spread a pass into the wide areas for a teammate to have a shooting opportunity. He tucked into the half-space to receive a pass in between the lines to work a one-two with a teammate as he had a cross blocked. Daniel Jr’s attributes are in seamless alignment with Paulo Pezzolano’s high-pressing and vertical brand of football as he operates as a direct passing option in between the lines as possesses the ability to connect play and facilitate rapid attacking moves in the opposition half.

At home to Pouso Alegre, he would move into the half-space to receive possession and flick a pass to the flank before the ball was played into the deeper areas as he moved closer to the touchline to receive possession, playing the ball back to his fullback and moving into the half-space to receive possession and flick a pass towards the flank for his fullback to have a crossing opportunity on the overlap. Pezzolano has improved his aptitude for defensive work and his pressing as he would regain possession in a pressing situation to flick a pass to a teammate who had a tame shot on goal. The 20-year-old received possession near the touchline to drive inside before flicking the ball outside his defender to drive past him and square a low cross into the box. He received possession in the same area to weave past his man and flick a through ball into the box which was too heavy and bobbled into the arms of the goalkeeper.

A pass was switched to him to launch a barrage of stepovers before flicking a pass to the flank before he received possession in the half-space, driving forward and playing a penetrative vertical pass into the box which led to a teammate sending a shot wide. Daniel r moved into the half-space to receive possession once more, spinning and threading a pass to the nine-space. At home to Sport in the Brasiliero Serie A, he received a lay-off on the left flank to drive the ball towards the centre before spreading a pass to the wide areas, he then occupied a position in between two defenders before side-stepping into space to receive possession and spread a pass into the wide areas for a crossing situation. The 20-year-old received possession in the half-space once more to drive the ball forward and cut-back a pass to the nine-space. After a turnover in the defensive phase, he made a run into the centre to receive possession and send a deflected shot past the goalkeeper to open his account for the season.

He nearly notched an assist as well, regaining possession in the opposition box during the pressing phase to cut-back a cross for a striker who had his tap-in blocked on the goal-line. At home to Vila Nova, he was positioned in the half-space once more, receiving a deep pass to play a one-touch flick to a teammate in the central spaces before making a run to receive possession and cut-back a cross which was just behind his striker. He regained possession during an opposition short corner to drive the ball into the opposition half with a player to his right and a runner to his left as he attempted a through ball to his left which was just too light. He received possession after a turnover to drive the ball forward, holding off a defender to spread a pass into the wide areas for a cross into the box which a striker hammered over the bar. Daniel Jr then utilized his combination play to create a shooting opportunity for himself, receiving a deep pass to flick the ball the nine-space and make a run behind the striker to receive possession with a heavy touch before he had a tame shot saved.

In a pressing situation, Daniel Jr tucked inside from the right flank to make an interception on a deep pass in the centre of the pitch before poking a pass to a teammate who played a through ball to the striker who had a shot saved before scoring the rebound. The 20-year-old tracked back in the pressing phase to make another tackle before striding forward to play a disguised pass to the nine-space. He was involved in another attacking move when he moved from the wide right zone into the half-space to receive possession and flick on to a fullback who squared a cross into the box which was blasted over the bar. He made a run into the right channel to receive possession and work a pass back to a teammate to facilitate a move that led to a shooting opportunity before moving back to the wide zone and threading a through ball for a runner to have a high-quality crossing opportunity.

The 20-year-old has a small sample size to work from as he has only played 633 minutes but ranks in the top 20 in dribbles per 90 for the Under 23 age-group as well as the top 20 in crosses from the left flank. He ranks in the top 25 for touches in the penalty area for Under 23s which is intriguing due to his ability work connections and receive the ball in the penalty area while he ranks in the top 25 for through passes in his age-group while being in the top 10 in through passes per 90 for his age-group. He also ranks in the top 10 for progressive runs per 90 for his age-group as he ranks in the top 20 for all available players in the Brasiliero Serie B. For general progressive runs, he ranks in the top 30 for under 23 players while for ball-progression by runs for players in the same age-group, he ranks in the top 15 according to WyScout ranking data.

Daniel Jr is an intriguing young prospect due to the fact that he is a player well-suited to the needs of modern-day football while being highly skilled on the essential facets of attacking play. He can receive deep passes in between the lines while having the skill to twist and shimmy out of tight areas while having the core physical strength to shield the ball. His dribbling is more about turns of pace and changes of direction but in 1v1 situations, he can unleash more elegant routines to manoeuvre out of tight situations. His combination play is excellent as this allows him to move into the half-spaces, work quick connections to make runs onto the flank to have high quality cut-back opportunities or work combinations to move into the box and have shooting opportunities. This is where the efficiencies of his game lie, his ability to receive deep passes in between the lines and turn them into shooting opportunities with a matter of touches as his game has transitioned seamlessly from youth football into professional football.

The 20-year-old could be deployed as a winger on both flanks as well as a playmaker, but the future of his game may lie as a false-nine or as a second striker. His ability to drop into space, connect play and make runs into space would be crucial in this area while he is intuitive about which spaces to occupy as his blind-sided movement is phenomenal. Daniel Jr is also a counter-attacking conduit, being able to string together counter-attacking moves with passing interchanges or with his phenomenal ball-carrying ability. He can create shooting opportunities for himself with his dribbling and passing interchanges as he would thrive in working with a partner in the central spaces and having the freedom to roam across the pitch. His pressing is phenomenal as he is comfortable in tucking inside and angling his body to close down defenders in the central spaces as well as the wide areas while if he is beaten, he will chase back to force a turnover as he is developing into an unrelenting pressing player. Daniel Jr will need to improve his decision making, especially in sequences where he carries the ball over long spaces as he tends to lose the ball in these situations while he could also improve his finishing and crossing as if he perfects these facets of his game, he will become one of the better attackers in Brazil.

Daniel Jr has just broken into the first-team with Cruzeiro who are top of the Brasiliero Serie B as they have become a more stable club since Ronaldo acquired them. Playing a full season with Cruzeiro before playing another full season with them in Serie A would be the perfect career trajectory for the 20-year-old before leaving for new pastures. However, football, especially Brazilian football, rarely works like this as Midtylland who play a front two, would be the perfect move for him. Torino or Hellas Verona in Serie A would also be good moves for him with their high-pressing style and quick vertical methodology in possession as Eintracht Frankfurt or Ajax would also be a good move for him. The 20-year-old has the tools to become an integral first team player at European level as he should grow in importance for Cruzeiro this season.