Is This Former Arsenal Target Finally Ready To Step Out Of Neymar’s Shadow?

Ever since his £7.5 million move to São Paulo, Paulo Henrique Ganso has failed to show what once made him one of the hottest prospects in world football. However, is he starting to turn that around?

In 2010, 20-year-old Ganso and 18-year-old Neymar helped Santos to their first national title in six years: the Copa do Brasil. Neymar was crowned top-goalscorer, but it was Ganso who stole the show as the tournament’s best player. A year later, the Meninos da Vila (Kids of the Vila) tantalised once more, leading Santos to the Copa Libertadores title, after a fine campaign consisting of one defeat in 14 games. Once again, Neymar finished top-goalscorer, and Ganso put in a Man of the Match performance in the final, exciting a nation as to the future of Brazilian football.

However, while Neymar has gone from strength-to-strength, things have arguably not panned-out as expected for Ganso. Injuries and a lack of fitness held back the creative enganche’s development, culminating in a difficult Copa America campaign in 2011. Mano Menezes attempted to build his Brazil side around Ganso, however the playmaker struggled against the hardened continental defences.

Since his move to São Paulo, it’s clear that Ganso has lost some of what made him such a special player only a few years ago. With the World Cup only a matter of months away, he will no doubt be attempting to get himself back in contention for the Seleção.

Ganso’s recent performances for São Paulo have provided brief glimpses of the player he showed that he could be in 2010.

One goal in 23 appearances does not necessarily point to a great run of form. In fact, most of Ganso’s stats will not stand out as particularly enticing on their own. However, there is more to the figures than initially apparent. For example, the single goal Ganso has scored this season involved a mazy run through the Náutico midfield and defensive lines, slotting the ball in the bottom corner.

This is the case for most of Ganso’s stats. 85% pass completion, 32 chances created, 45% shot accuracy, and a 9.1% completion rate. They aren’t spectacular in the scheme of things, certainly not when compared to some of the more in-form players in the league. However, it is not to say that Ganso is back to the player he once was; rather that he is seemingly on the right track.

Ganso’s action areas show his qualities as a traditional enganche. Unlike many others who play a similar position, Ganso does not tend to stray out towards the wide-areas. Very much a central-playmaker, he spends as much time in the opponents’ penalty area as he does on his own wing. If Ganso can get back to the form he showed three years ago, there wouldn’t be many better than him at occupying this role.

An overall Squawka Performance Score of 500 over 23 appearances is average, for most footballers. However, for Ganso (a player very much trying to get back to form), it is a sign of improvement. While there is no argument to be made that he is São Paulo’s best player this season (that accolade goes to Rodrigo Caio), he does rank as the fourth-highest scoring player in the squad.

Ganso will no doubt be desperately trying to get into the World Cup squad for next summer, and if he can become even a fraction of the player he looked like he could have been, then there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be contention. Currently behind Oscar, and arguably other fringe players such as Philippe Coutinho and Willian, Ganso does have stiff competition. However, Brazilians will want him to succeed, as they saw the player he once was and know the player that he had the ability to become. It’s an outside chance, but there is a slight possibility that Paulo Henrique Ganso may just find himself with an opportunity come June 2014.