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Exclusive interview
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Thiago Kosloski has worked with some of the most promising players in Brazilian football. The list of the former assistant coach of Fluminense and the Brazilian under-20 team, who left Grêmio in December, includes world football stars such as Estêvão and Andrey Santos, two players who are likely to feature on Carlo Ancelotti's list for the 2026 World Cup. Kosloski is full of praise for the duo, but wants a third name to join them. That name is Rayan, Vasco's star player in the last Brasileirão and Bournemouth's new signing.
"Rayan is a spectacular player. I worked with him before he became a well-known player. He has a fantastic physique that reminds me a lot of Adriano. But he has a difference that I really like, which is that he also plays on the wings and cuts inside. That makes him very different," the Brazilian coach begins to explain.
"Rayan is a name I would like to see at the 2026 World Cup. I have no doubt that he will have a long career in the national team. If I were Ancelotti's assistant, I would recommend calling him up. He has a characteristic that we don't have in the national team. We have players with great technique and speed, but they don't impose themselves physically. Rayan has that. He can be a box player, but he has the speed and quality to play on the wings. And because he's young, he's hungry. He wants it badly and he's eager. Ancelotti should take a close look at him," added Kosloski.
Thiago Kosloski and Rayan were champions of the South American Under-20 Championship in Venezuela last year. The tournament served to boost Rayan's career, who returned to Vasco with prestige to have more opportunities, a situation he took advantage of and became one of the highlights of the 2025 Brasileirão. His outstanding performance attracted the interest of European football clubs, which led to his €28.5m move to the Cherries making him the 17th largest sale in the history of Brazilian football.
The former assistant coach of the national team sees Rayan developing into a world-class player, not unlike Estêvão, who is already established at Chelsea and also in Ancelotti's team for Brazil. Not surprisingly, the young left-footed player was the one who impressed him the most in the Brazilian youth team. "Estêvão was the most talented player I worked with in the national team. He has exceptional tactical intelligence. He can play on the wing, in the centre and has incredible reasoning skills. I really like his decision-making ability.
"I remember a training session we did with Brazil and I was very impressed with Estêvão. He played first as a winger and then as a number 10. He scored four goals and even missed a penalty. He is very committed on a daily basis and is eager to learn. When training was over, he would stay behind and practice free kicks, and he never misses. He is fast, good at dribbling, intelligent and is great atset pieces. When he improves his physical condition, he will reach even greater heights. I have no doubt that he will be one of the great names in our football."
Finally, Kosloski analysed Andrey Santos, also from Chelsea. The two were champions in the 2023 South American Under-20 Championship in Colombia. The midfielder, then a Vasco player, was the team captain and already impressed with his leadership on and off the pitch. "In addition to his technique and quality, Andrey is very different in terms of discipline," said Kosloski. "He has a level of professionalism that is hard to find. He knows how to behave. We called him up for the friendly against Morocco (in March 2023, Brazil's first game after the World Cup in Qatar). He didn't feel the game, he didn't feel the weight of wearing the Brazil shirt. A great player needs to feel comfortable in the Brazil shirt.
“Andrey is absurdly tactical. He can play in any position in midfield. But his ball control is impressive. The opponent can press him, and he still manages to break through the defence. He has everything it takes to be Casemiro's replacement, who is also a very different guy tactically and committed to his work."
