Lazio’s Brazilian whiz-kid has seemingly come out of obscurity and is making headlines in Serie A this season, causing some of Europe’s biggest clubs to sit up and take notice of the player’s blistering form that has been a key factor in the Rome based club’s rise to second in the Serie A table.
Felipe Anderson scored his tenth goal of the 2014/15 campaign when he netted Lazio’s fourth against Empoli. His performances this season have seen him become one of Serie A’s hottest prospects along with fellow youngsters Paulo Dybala and Mauro Icardi, both of whom are being courted by some of Europe’s elite. Such has been the form of Anderson that he is keeping one of Spain’s most talented youngsters, Balde Keita, out of the side.
Anderson’s rise to becoming one of the brightest youngsters to ply their trade in Europe has not exactly been straightforward though.
The winger moved around several local youth sides before joining Santos’ academy in 2007, famed for nurturing household names such as Robinho and Neymar. He debuted at 17 and later went on to become a regular for the South American powerhouse in the 2012 season. Whilst impressing early on under then coach Muricy Ramalho, the public (mainly Brazilian) opinion of Anderson was tarnished due to his poor showing in the 2013 South American U20 Championship, where Brazil did not make it past the first round.
Lazio, though, were unconcerned by this and managed to sign him, upon the second time of asking, in 2013 for eight million Euros. The fact that Anderson was carrying an ankle injury upon his arrival at the Stadio Olimpico made it harder for him to adapt to a new country, language, culture and style of football. He made little impact in Serie A as he was in-and-out of the side.
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In November this season, however, an injury to Antonio Candreva allowed Anderson to be given a regular run in the first team. The Brazilian did not disappoint, turning in some sparkling performances and making the left-wing position his own under Stefano Pioli.
The speedster has not looked back since, becoming, arguably, Lazio’s best player this season as Serie A’s most in form club has ascended past city rivals Roma and look on course to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since the 2007/08 season.
In terms of his style of play, Anderson is an extremely quick and direct two-footed winger who has a great shot from distance. Being able to control the ball with both feet, the Lazio attacker usually cuts in from wide areas (left and right) to unleash venomous shots from outside the box. When not doing so, Anderson uses his pace and excellent close control to dribble past players; a daunting prospect for any opposition defender.
The prodigy does not only excel offensively – he often uses his blistering pace to track opposition full backs making runs forward. Not only that, he is a player who is not scared to put a foot in and win the ball in 50-50 situations.
The only negative aspects to the youngster’s game include his weakness in aerial duels and, though it is not much of a weakness depending on the philosophy of the manager, his lack of off-the-ball runs behind opposition defences as he prefers to get the ball at his feet and weave his way through or take on a shot from distance.
According to Squawka Football, Anderson has been Lazio’s most effective player this season, with a performance score of 802 (next is Dutch centre-back Stefan de Vrij with 780). Apart from the ten goals he has scored so far, the winger has created 27 chances and registered six assists. He has completed 525 passes with an accuracy of 78%, of which 69% were forward passes. Anderson also boasts a shot accuracy of 64% and an average duels won per game of 54%.
Given the rising talent’s current form, it is only a matter of time before he gains his first cap for Brazil. Also, playing in the Champions League next season, assuming Lazio qualify and that the player stays at the club, will mean even more exposure to the footballing world and perhaps a move to one of Europe’s elite may be on the cards for Anderson if he can replicate the form he has shown this season.
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