The Lucas Perri case ignites Brazil

John Textor is not always wrong. The businessman has sometimes had a hollow nose regarding the OL transfer window. He was the one who pushed to recruit Malick Fofana last January. And the Belgian is spreading his wings with Les Gones, where he is becoming indispensable. He is also the American who wanted to try the Jack O'Brien bet last year. A player he knew very well since he had already played at Crystal Palace and Molenbeek, two other clubs in the Eagle Football galaxy. After one season, the Irishman was well sold to Everton. Textor is also behind the arrival of the Brazilian duo Adryelson-Lucas Perri. If the first named did not really succeed in establishing himself and was sent on loan to Botafogo, the second is in the process of settling into the Lyon squad.

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A move by Textor

Arriving last winter, the Brazilian goalkeeper first played the role of understudy to Anthony Lopes. But Textor's idea was for him to become a starter during the 2024-25 season. After six months in the Portuguese's shadow, Perri, who participated in 4 matches in all competitions, was named number 1 goalkeeper by Pierre Sage during the summer. OL did not want to put a competitor in his path, since Rémy Descamps was recruited to fill the role of understudy. Anthony Lopes was asked to leave. Except that the player trained in Lyon did not accept the offers he may have had. He therefore remained between Rhône and Saône, where he continues to train. But he doesn't play at all anymore.

It's Perri who leads the meetings. For the moment, the native of Campinas has taken part in 14 matches in all competitions in the Gones jersey. He conceded 17 goals and made 5 clean sheets. The last took place during the derby against ASSE on November 10 (1-0 victory). A match where the Auriverde international made numerous saves and decisive gestures. After the match, Alexandre Lacazette, scorer, admitted about him: “he made a crazy save. He saves us and that's worth a goal, I think. So congratulations to Lucas. We also need him in these moments.” Well integrated into the Lyon group according to our information, the 26-year-old goalkeeper has perfectly known how to mark his territory and take his place, while making his predecessor forget.

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A much appreciated player and man

Formerly of the Lyon club, Claudio Caçapa (48 years old) knows this player perfectly, with whom he was able to collaborate during his 4-match interim on the Botafogo bench. “I know him from Botafogo. He's a very good goalkeeper and a very good guy too. He is a worker, a keeper who knows where he wants to go. I think he still needs to improve and will continue to improve. I think he will help the team.” But not just the OL team. In Brazil, we talk about him more and more. A U20 international then U23, he has already been called up to the Seleção without playing. This month, he was not called up since Dorival Jr summoned Bento (Al-Nassr), Ederson (Manchester City) and Weverton (Palmeiras).

But the Brazilian press believes that the Lyonnais should have his chance. This is the case ofUOLwho wrote: “the Brazilian team could bet on a new and old option in the cages due to next year's commitments and the moment of truth in the South American qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. After disappearing from the squad of the Canarinha in 2024 and until he is treated as a card of the game by Dorival Júnior, Lucas Perri is again on the radar of the CBF. For his second season in France, the first since the start, the former Botafogo player managed to take the starting position in Lyon and is already considered one of the best goalkeepers in Ligue 1.

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A return to selection soon?

UOL add: “With his career back on track, Perri now also returns to fighting for one of the three places normally reserved for national team goalkeepers. Currently, Dorival's favorites for this position are Ederson (Manchester City), Alisson (Liverpool) and Bento (Al-Nassr). But the second name on the list is injured, while the third plays in a championship with less impact and little visibility. In the current FIFA Data, without being able to count on one of his favorites, the coach of the national team also summoned the veteran Weverton (Palmeiras), who will already be 38 years old at the next World Cup…”

For the Auriverde press, the former Botafogo goalkeeper clearly has a card to play to join the group of goalkeepers of the national team, or even more if he continues his momentum and progresses. An opinion shared by Claudio Caçapa, who believes that Lucas Perri will have his chance again in the future. “He’s already been called. Afterwards if he continues to perform as he is doing in Lyon, in my opinion, he will return there at some point. The goalkeeper who will celebrate his 27th birthday on December 10 therefore knows what he still has to do to find the national team. John Textor, who believed in him despite the doubts of some, hopes that he will return very quickly.