CHELSEA reportedly sent three scouts to watch Brazilian wonderkid Jose Marcos Costa Martins during Atletico Mineiro’s win over Botafogo last Wednesday.
Unfortunately for the 20-year-old, who is known as Marquinhos, he was forced off the pitch with a head injury after just 33 minutes of the 2-0 victory.
GloboEsporte.com claims that the attacking midfielder still impressed during his brief cameo in Belo Horizonte.
However, the plan to watch him again on Sunday for the final game of the season against Internacional was scrapped after concussion protocols forced the club to rest him.
The report adds that Chelsea scouts had already run the rule over Marquinhos during the 2-1 win over Atletico Corinthians, where he played the full 90 minutes and registered an assist.
The Brazilian has enjoyed a breakthrough year with the Rooster after scoring 13 and assisting 15 in 32 games for the club’s U-20s.
He has since scored one and laid on three in 13 matches in the senior side, and was rewarded with a new contract until 2023.
Following the announcement, Marquinhos tweeted: “First I want to thank God, my business owners and the athletic for believing in my potential! I hope to build a beautiful story here!”
Supersports report that both Manchester United and German outfit Eintracht Frankfurt are also keeping tabs on the talented youngster.
The Blues are thought to be just monitoring Marquinhos at this stage and are have not yet made any official contact with either the star’s representatives or with Atletico.
But the two clubs are already in regular contact over Chelsea’s Nathan, who is on loan with Vagner Mancini’s side until January 1.
The creative midfielder, who joined the Blues in 2014 from Atletico Paranaense, spent last season in his homeland before agreeing an extension in July.
Brazilian reports state that Nathan, who has never made a senior appearance for Chelsea, remains keen to stay at Mineiro.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
