French Scouts Track Brazilian Starlet Ryan Francisco at Morumbi

Scouts from several French clubs were spotted at the Morumbis stadium during São Paulo’s match against Cruzeiro on Sunday, April 13. According to Lance!, one of the representatives was seated in the same VIP box as the agent of Ryan Francisco, a highly rated prospect at the Brazilian club. ESPN had initially reported on the presence of French observers, but the newspaper confirmed that no formal interest or offer has been made for the player.

The attendees reportedly represented clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Montpellier, and Olympique de Marseille. Their attention focused on Ryan Francisco, who rose to prominence during São Paulo's recent triumph in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. The 2006-born forward scored ten goals and finished as the tournament’s top scorer. His release clause is reportedly set at around R$374 million.

Francisco has begun making his way into the senior squad, scoring his first professional goal earlier this year against Portuguesa in the Campeonato Paulista. During the match against Cruzeiro, he came off the bench in the 75th minute, replacing Ferreirinha.

With a contract running through mid-2028, Ryan continues to draw interest from Europe while gaining valuable minutes with São Paulo’s first team, where he is seen as one of the brightest emerging talents.