Scout Report: Bernard (Atletico Mineiro)

Bernard (R) with Neymar

The discovery of yet another young talented footballer is perhaps one of the most common stories found in the back pages of Brazilian newspapers. Nothing big in it.

However, when a youngster in just his second season with the club’s first team becomes a key figure in leading a mid-table team’s revolution towards the top of the table in the process becoming a club favourite – he goes from being just a talented youngster to a wonder-kid. And the world starts to take notice. And the world has indeed taken notice of Bernard.

For those still unaware, Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte or as he is popularly known by his Anglo-style name ‘Bernard’ plays for Atletico Mineiro in the Brasileirao. A product of the club’s own youth system, Bernard has been heavily instrumental in the meteoric rise of the club in the past two seasons, eventually becoming the Copa Libertadores champions.

Player Profile:

Date of birth:	08.09.1992
Place of birth:	Belo Horizonte
Age:	20
Height:	1,68
Nationality:	Brazil
Position:	Midfield – Left Wing
Foot:	right
Market value:	8.800.000 £
Player’s agent:	Souza de Paula Sportmanagement

Anyone who sees Bernard in action for the first time will be surprised by his size. He is only 5’6″ in height and extremely light-weight, not exactly a ‘sports-person mould’. His diminutive frame means he attracts special attention from defenders and opponents in general tend to get a bit more physical with him.

But that is not the only problem he has faced due to his small frame. Twice, he was rejected by Atletico’s youth academy due to his small stature as it was perceived that he won’t have what it takes to make it in a professional league.

Fortunately, the academy’s directors didn’t agree with the technician’s view, finding Bernard’s skilled football too good to ignore. And thus at the age of 14, Bernard joined Atletico’s youth academy in 2006.

He spent four years at youth level and a season at Democrata Futebol Clube a club in the state championship – Campeonato Mineiro. which somewhat acts as a development side for Atletico Mineiro. He scored 14 goals in 16 appearances in his season-long tenure at Mineiro.

Aged just 18, he played his first match for the senior team, albeit out of position as a right back. Dorival Junior, who was then the manager sent him back to the youth squad and he played intermittently for the first team.

When new manager Cuca came in, he restored Bernard to the first team. Bernard eventually made 23 appearances for the first team in the 2011 season.

Bernard already impressive in the previous season started to really shine in the 2012 season. Missing only two matches in the entire 2012 Brasileirao, he went on to score 11 goals and further made 12 goals for others.

His alliance with Ronaldinho and Jo altered the Brasileirao landscape. Bernard also made his full international debut when he was called up by then Brazil coach Mano Menezes for the Superclásico de las Américas, a home-and-away set of friendlies against rivals Argentina in September 2012.

Bernard

Skills and game-play

He is comfortable playing anywhere across the attacking midfield, but has been pre-dominantly deployed on the left wing at Atletico. He can also play as a supporting striker to a central target man.

Whatever Bernard misses out on due to his short stature with regards to his strength, he more than makes up for it with the abundance of energy he has. Although his ‘on the ball’ skills are his main weapon, his electric pace is what gives him an advantage over the opponents.

Acceleration/deceleration with lightning fast change of direction/running fast on distances/balance – name any pacy attribute and Bernard has it at his disposal. On top of that, he also has a long lasting ‘engine’ with respect to stamina. His pace does not suffer even at the later stages of the game.

He has a brilliant first touch which renders him comfortable while playing facing an opponent or with his back towards the goal. Having the ball under his control and away from the defender after the first touch means he is able to be one step ahead and always in control and thus, the opponents’ moves against him mostly turn out to be reactions to his actions. He is also blessed with a good vision and reading of the game and his team-mates’ movements.

Speaking of team-mates, what differentiates Bernard from the usual tricksters and dribblers is what Bernard does after a dribble. Almost every time after dribbling past an opponent or after pulling off a nice trick to throw an immediate opponent off balance, Bernard invariably either passes the ball or crosses the ball bringing his team-mates into play. He knows when to dribble, when to beat and run and when to pass to keep the game flowing.

On the defensive side, his tackling is not the best. That being said his player-marking abilities are not bad. With the never-ending energy he has, he doesn’t shy away from tracking back opponents. Although he can jump well, given his stature, he is bound to lose out on aerial duels.

His prime weakness is the lack of strength. In the Brasileirao, he has adjusted well by using his pace to counter this weakness but it remains to be seen if he can succeed against physical teams like Stoke City or in a defensively strong league like the Italian Seria A.

Football being a contact sport and Bernard being the natural target, he is bound to be bullied by the stronger athletes and will attract tackles, but it’s a good thing he doesn’t simulate a dive with the slightest touch.

A look at some of the goals he has scored clearly highlights how good he is with his first touch. Another aspect quite evident from his goals and even assists is his control over the ball while volleying the ball.

How he has scored his goals:

Competition	Right Leg	Left leg	Header	Free-kick	total
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A	5	2	3	1	11

When he has scored his goals:

Competition	1 – 15	16 – 30	31 – 45	45+	46 – 60	61 – 75	> 75	90+	total
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A	3	2	-	-	-	4	1	1	11

Influence & Impact:

His ability to bring in his team-mates into play by freeing up space or by passing on the right time has enabled other players around him to perform at a level better.

Certainly, having Ronaldinho around has helped Bernard as well. Perhaps the player who has benefited the most has been former Manchester City striker Jo. He has not only enjoyed the direct service from Bernard’s crosses but, in general, having Bernard behind him, who can take away defenders and pass and also open-up opportunities, has helped Jo’s game.

Physical attributes aside, Bernard looks the kind of player who not only possesses bags of promise but with his good decision-making and passion for the game can surely become a football great one day.

The phenomenal rise of Atletico Mineiro coinciding with the emergence of Bernard is a testament not only of his footballing prowess but also the influence he has on the other players. His commitment towards his club’s Copa Libertadores triumph at a time when big European clubs are interested in him further shows the focus of the youngster.

On the basis of his performances over the past year-and-a-half – only time separates Bernard from greatness!