Fluminense Aims to Showcase Their Worth Against a Dortmund Team Featuring a Star’s Sibling

This evening’s encounter at MetLife Stadium, featuring Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, promises to be an exciting showdown, showcasing the seasoned experience of the Rio de Janeiro squad against the youthful exuberance of the German team, which, much like the Tricolor Carioca, is well-regarded for its development of young talent.

Fluminense boasts several key players, including goalkeeper Fabio, defender Thiago Silva, right-back Samuel Xavier, midfielder Paulo Ganso, and striker German Cano, who collectively add up to a remarkable 191 years, with Fabio holding the record as the oldest player in the Club World Cup at 44 years old.

Conversely, Borussia Dortmund is set to unveil a new generation of stars to the global stage sooner rather than later. Among them is the incredibly talented 16-year-old American winger Mathis Albert, who ranks as the second youngest player at the FIFA Club World Cup, just behind Urawa Red Diamonds’ midfielder Takeshi Wada, who celebrated his 16th birthday shortly before the tournament.

“We know we’ll encounter a lot of challenges. Borussia is a dynamic young team with exceptional speed, but it’s up to us to neutralise their strengths and exploit their weaknesses,” Samuel Xavier commented ahead of this clash of generations at the MetLife Stadium.

Former Brazilian’s son among the rising stars

In addition to Albert, Dortmund has brought along other promising youngsters worth watching closely. Italian midfielder Samuele Inacio, who recently turned 17, boasts Brazilian lineage.

He is the son of former Italian-Brazilian player João Batista Inácio Pia, who had stints at Napoli and Atalanta, where he began his youth career after moving from Ibitinga, in São Paulo, at the age of 14.

Inacio followed in his father’s footsteps, starting his football journey at Atalanta before making the move to Dortmund.

Another emerging talent on the Dortmund roster is 19-year-old Cole Campbell, who made his professional debut at just 15 years of age in Iceland. This past European season, Cole made six appearances for BVB.

Jobe aims to follow in his brother’s footsteps

At just 19, Jobe Bellingham, the younger brother of Real Madrid and England star Jude, is one of the players to watch closely. He is anticipated to make his debut for the Reds during today’s match at the MetLife Stadium.

Acquired from Sunderland for 30.5 million euros, Jobe’s contract with the German side will extend until 2030. His scoring record at Sunderland was relatively modest, with 11 goals in 90 appearances.

All eyes are on whether he can replicate the successful trajectory of many other promising talents nurtured by Borussia, including his brother.

Borussia’s esteemed history as a development club speaks for itself, with several high-profile transfers occurring between the ages of 19 and 22 in recent years. The list of players includes Ousmane Dembélé to Erling Haaland.

“It’s 11 against 11”

Facing the highly skilled Borussia Dortmund represents a significant challenge for Fluminense. Nevertheless, midfielder Nonato remains optimistic that once the match begins, both teams will start on equal footing. The Tricolor must not be intimidated.

“We understand and appreciate Borussia’s quality. However, when the match kicks off, it’s 11 against 11. We are confident in our preparation and training, and that belief empowers us to perform well. We must assert ourselves, regardless of our opponents, and I believe that can lead us to victory,” he concluded.

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