Vanderson: Monaco’s Versatile Brazilian Defender Making Waves

Vanderson, Monaco’s Brazilian right-back, is challenging the traditional perception of Brazilian full-backs. Unlike his renowned predecessors such as Cafu and Roberto Carlos, Vanderson isn’t primarily attack-oriented. Instead, he offers a well-rounded skill set, demonstrating proficiency in both defensive and offensive play without necessarily excelling in either area. This balanced approach has allowed him to steadily improve without drawing excessive attention.

His consistent performances have earned him a recall to the Brazil national team. Despite the arrival of Wilfried Singo, Vanderson has maintained his position as Monaco’s first-choice right-back, especially given Jordan Teze’s challenging start at the club. Vanderson’s journey with Monaco began in January 2022, where he quickly established himself as a key player, arguably becoming the team’s standout performer in the latter half of the 2021/22 season.

Room for Improvement in Attacking Play

While Vanderson’s defensive abilities are strong, relying on good positioning, intense pressing, and solid tackling, his attacking play has shown room for improvement. Although he effectively uses his pace to reach the byline, his final ball often lacks precision. However, he has shown progress in his ability to move infield and deliver progressive passes in central areas, demonstrating clear signs of development in this aspect of his game.

This season, Vanderson has contributed three assists and two goals in 19 appearances for Monaco, a period he describes as a “very special moment.” If he can sustain this attacking efficiency, he may attract renewed attention from bigger clubs. While he may never match the attacking prowess of Cafu or Roberto Carlos, Vanderson’s versatility could see him progress either as a right-back or potentially transition into a midfield role, following in the footsteps of former Monaco player Fabinho.