- Name: Ademilson Braga Bispo Júnior
- Position: Striker
- Age: 17
- Height: 1.75m Weight: 70kg
Just 17, Ademilson is already on track to emulate the likes of Lucas Moura, Casemiro and Wellington in graduating out of the São Paulo youth ranks into the first-team squad.
First though, over the next month the young predator will compete in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, with the hope of impressing first-team coach Emerson Leão enough to earn a call to the first-team squad for the State Championships, which start on January 21st.
Spotted by São Paulo in 2005, Ademilson moved to the club"s academy full-time aged 15, in 2009. That same year, the pacy forward scored 24 goals in 26 games for the Under-15 side against the great and good of São Paulo state.
A move up to the Under-17 category slowed Ademilson"s prolific scoring in 2010, with just nine goals, but in 2011 he would be back firing once more. In just 14 games in the Paulista Under-17 Championships, Ademilson managed 23 goals as the focal point of a São Paulo team also featuring new Chelsea signing Lucas Piazon.
A call-up to the Brazil squad for the Under-17 World Cup squad followed, where Ademilson dislodged top-scorer of the South American Championships, Léo Bonatini, to claim a starting spot. Having been rewarded with this berth, Ademilson would not disappoint. The striker fired a total of five goals as Brazil advanced to the later stages, before a Semi-final defeat to Uruguay.
Just to top off all the success that 2011 had brought, the arrival of Emerson Leão at São Paulo also brought Ademilson the opportunity to train with with the first-team squad for the final weeks of the season, with a view to making a debut this year.
The legendary-goalkeeper turned coach has stated he will be keeping an eye on Ademilson"s performances in the Copinha, in the hope that they merit inclusion in the the first-team set-up during the State Championships.
As shown by the examples of his São Paulo predecessors, the transfer from Copa São Paulo to first-team regular can take just a matter of months. In 2009, it was Neymar at Santos. In 2011, Negueba led Flamengo to the title and earned himself a spot in the first-team squad for the Rubro-Negro. Will 2012 be the year of Ademilson?
“This kid is special. Wherever he has played, either here at São Paulo or with the Brazilian national team, he has been top scorer.
“I have no doubt that he will shine and have the same impact that Lucas did. He will go to the senior squad early this year and stay there" – Juvenal Juvêncio, President – São Paulo FC
