Meet Manchester City's 'One in a Billion' talent Vitor Reis: The key attributes that Pep Guardiola wanted, why he'll adapt quickly to the Premier League and the reason he's already being tipped to captain Brazil
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The 'One in a Billion' generation has produced its latest gem - and the Premier League's biggest collector of diamonds has snapped him up. In the last few years, Palmeiras have sold Endrick to Real Madrid, Estevao Willian to Chelsea, Luis Guilherme to West Ham, Danilo to Nottingham Forest and the excellently named Kevin to Shakhtar Donetsk.
![[Over the last few years, Brazil club Palmeiras have sold a generational crop of talent, including Endrick (above) to Real Madrid, Estevao Willian to Chelsea and Luis Guilherme to West Ham]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/20/94363455-14309319-image-a-3_1737491108129.jpg)
Now, 19-year-old centre back Vitor Reis has completed a £29.6million move to Manchester City, a fee which makes him the most expensive Brazilian defender in history and the latest windfall for the 12-time champions of Brazil. Inside Palmeiras, they have been waiting for this crop of talent to mature. In 2022, the club’s youth coordinator Joao Paulo Sampaio claimed they would have to accept they were ‘incompetent’ if they did not reach £200m (1.5billion Brazilian reais) from the players emerging.
![[Reis (right) is the latest talent to emerge from the Brazil giants, having only just turned 19]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/20/94363291-14309319-image-a-4_1737491310548.jpg)
Three years on, the combined transfer fees add up to almost exactly that figure - and the production line has not stopped. More is on the way, such as Fellipe Jack, a defender on loan at Como in Italy, and Thalys, a forward still in the academy ranks.
![[The teenage defender took part in his first Manchester City's training session on Tuesday]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/20/94363281-14309319-image-a-5_1737491364672.jpg)
Reis turned 19 less than two weeks ago. His footballing journey started in the city he was born, Sao Jose dos Campos, and he joined the Palmeiras academy at the age of 10 in 2016. He can play at left back as well as centre back, something that suits City who have used Josko Gvardiol and Nathan Ake in similar roles.
![[Reis shares the grass with his team-mates Phil Foden (right) and fellow new signing Abdukodir Khusanov (centre), who joined the Premier League champions for £33milllion this week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/21/20/94363261-14309319-image-a-6_1737491443884.jpg)
