Chelsea have developed a reputation for snapping up talented young Brazilians in recent years, with Deivid Washington, Andrey Santos, and Estevão among those to have either joined or soon set to arrive at Stamford Bridge.
Seemingly unsatisfied with their current Brazilian acquisitions, the Blues have now set their sights on Gremio starlet Gabriel Mec.
Mec, 16, was in talks with Chelsea last summer but ultimately chose to commit his future to Gremio, signing a contract until 2027.
According to TBR Football, however, Chelsea remain undeterred. The club is still in discussions with the youngster and hopes to finally convince him to trade Rio Grande do Sul for West London.
So, who exactly is Gabriel Mec? Here’s everything you need to know about the teenage sensation turning heads in his home country.
Mec is already playing first-team football
He might only be 16, but Mec is already making waves in Gremio's first team.
The teenager was handed his professional debut by head coach Gustavo Quinteros in a 3-0 win over Monsoon FC in the Campeonato Gaúcho—the top-tier state league in Rio Grande do Sul—on January 30.
Mec played the final 29 minutes of the match and earned widespread praise for his performance.
Mec was given a special haircut for his debut
In Brazil, it's tradition for young players promoted to the senior squad to have their heads shaved by their teammates.
That’s exactly what happened to Mec when he joined Gremio’s first team at the start of the year—making his debut completely bald.
Mec has been compared to Neymar
Neymar is arguably the greatest talent to emerge from Brazil this century, having enjoyed a phenomenal career for both club and country since making a name for himself as a teenager at Santos in the late 2000s.
Mec, who plays as an attacking midfielder, has already drawn comparisons to the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star.
Writing about him on X last year, analyst Ben Mattison described Mec as having a "Neymar-esque play style" and noted that it's "hard not to be excited by him."
“Mec has rapid feet, able to pull off skills so quickly that he can fool defenders with ease,” Mattison wrote. “A joy to watch, he’s a real throwback Brazilian.”
Interestingly, Mec’s agent is none other than Neymar’s father, Neymar Sr.
Mec is a Brazil regular
As well as making his mark for Gremio, Mec is also shining on the international stage for Brazil.
A regular ficxture for the Selecao's Under-15s and Under-16s, the youngster was called up to the Under-17s for the first-ever time in February for two friendly fixtures against Ecuador.
Mec's name has a special meaning
Born Gabriel Ferreira de Carvalho, Mec was reportedly given his nickname by teammates due to his remarkable composure on the ball.
In some parts of Brazil, "mec" is a slang term for "calm"—a fitting description for the young playmaker.
Mec's technical ability has even drawn comparisons to Ronaldinho, another Gremio academy graduate.
"I got Neymar, Ronaldinho, Cambiasso, and Jean Pyerre. I've seen several stars emerge. Of everything I saw, only this kid compares to Ronaldinho," Brazilian radio presenter Celeni Viana said in 2023.
Viana also believes Mec could reach the heights of his compatriot Endrick, who is now with Real Madrid.
"He is a boy with a future," Viana added. "He just needs to polish his game, and the jewel will be ready. Anyone who wasn’t at Farroupilha Stadium missed out on seeing a star who will equal Endrick."
Mec wants to be a star for Gremio
While attracting interest from some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Chelsea and Barcelona, Mec remains focused on his development at Gremio—for now.
Having been with the club since the age of nine, he expressed his desire last year to become a star at the Arena do Gremio.
When asked about links to Chelsea, he told SporTV: "My mind is on Gremio. I want to make my name here. This club has always been with me since I was little, since I was nine. I'm going to make a name for myself here, God willing."
Comments