Newcastle United step up Brazil scouting after Copinha

Newcastle United Brazil scouting plans are accelerating after club officials travelled to South America to assess emerging talent at the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.

The tournament, widely known as the Copinha, is Brazil’s most traditional youth competition, first staged in 1969. This year’s edition featured 128 teams playing 232 matches across 23 days, concluding on 25 January in São Paulo.

According to ESPN Brazil, Newcastle sent representatives to monitor several prospects during the tournament. However, their focus extended beyond individual names.

Inside the club, the technical level of this year’s Copinha is reportedly viewed as “well above” recent editions. That internal assessment has strengthened Newcastle’s belief that Brazil remains a priority market.

At this stage, no final targets have been selected. ESPN indicate that Newcastle’s recruitment department is still refining its shortlist before considering any formal approaches during the summer window.

The mid-year market remains the most structured opportunity for European clubs to execute youth-focused investment strategies.

Having followed Newcastle’s recruitment evolution over recent seasons, the shift appears deliberate rather than reactive. The club are not only looking for immediate first-team contributors but also long-term developmental assets.

However, it remains too early to suggest specific deals are imminent.

This latest scouting drive fits into a broader strategy led by sporting director Ross Wilson.

Wilson previously oversaw the recruitment of nine Brazilian players during his tenure at Nottingham Forest between 2023 and 2025. At Newcastle, the objective is to establish earlier access to promising talent, targeting players aged 22 and under with both development potential and resale value.

The Copinha serves as more than a youth showcase. It is effectively a testing ground for scouting models aimed at identifying technically refined players before their valuations escalate.

Newcastle’s approach suggests an effort to build relationships, intelligence networks and early positioning rather than relying on late-stage bidding wars.

Newcastle are expected to continue monitoring Brazil’s U17 and U20 competitions, including the U20 Brazilian League which begins this week. Scouts will likely attend additional youth tournaments across South America before summer decisions are made. Much will depend on internal evaluations over the coming months, but the direction of travel is clear.

Are Newcastle building the Premier League’s most forward-thinking South American recruitment network?