Football writer Ben McAleer analyses what makes Souza such an exciting prospect for Tottenham Hotspur and why he is compared to former Real Madrid and Brazil left-back Marcelo.
A left-back dubbed the "next Marcelo" is going to make any team sit up and take notice. The Brazilian is considered one of the best in his position in modern history. The former Real Madrid man was essentially a left-back and a left winger rolled into one.
For Souza, the tag could prove a sign of things to come. The 19-year-old has signed for Spurs as the north London side future-proof their left side. Santos fans are sad to see the back of Souza. That should say it all about how highly rated the teenager was for the Brazilian outfit.
Souza joined the Santos ranks as a nine-year-old after playing for futsal side Juventus-SP. The fancy footwork with a smaller ball has certainly stood the defender in good stead. To some, he’s the best player to come through the Santos ranks in the last 10 years. Spurs will be hoping the Peixe’s loss is very much their gain.
What will Souza bring to Spurs?
The "next Marcelo" is regarded as the archetypal Brazilian full-back. Indeed, Souza’s best quality is his ability to bombard upfield. The youngster flies forward without a second invitation, and takes the sort of risks that’ll leave Spurs supporters pulling their hair out, or standing and applauding the desire to stretch the play.
“My next chapter is in North London” 🤍 pic.twitter.com/KMKiqa7K0k
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 22, 2026
Souza was key, when available, to the way Santos played last season. 43 per cent of their attacks in the 2025 Brasileirao Serie A campaign came down the left flank, the highest such proportion in the division. As the Brazilian powerhouse sought to hurt opponents, they relied heavily on the left wing.
That didn’t often pay dividends. Santos finished a respectable 12th last season, but just four points above the relegation zone. Ultimately, it was a run of four wins from their last six matches that guaranteed their safety. Yet even in such a disappointing campaign, Souza shone as an effective counter-attacking threat for Santos.
Santos ranked fourth for counter-attacking goals (seven) in Brazil’s top tier. They relied heavily on quick transitions to hurt teams as they broke forward at speed. That was to be expected from a side that placed 12th for possession (49.4 per cent).
Souza was vital in that regard. The teen averaged a modest 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 minutes in the Brasileirao last season. With an inclination to get forward, Souza played his part in stretching defences. As the left winger – nominally Guilherme – cut inside, the left-back maximised the space to get down the wing.
Areas to improve
With a more upright dribbling style, too, this allows Souza to assess his options with ease. So often fans saw Souza burst down the left, and with his head up; he was able to readily scan the final third to pick his pass. This didn’t necessarily always pay off, however, and this is a weakness to Spurs’ new signing that needs work.
Souza, after all, managed just 0.8 key passes per 90 and two assists in the Brasileirao last season. He averaged 4.2 attempted crosses per 90, but the success rate left little to the imagination. A 14.3 per cent cross accuracy was the fourth-lowest of the 91 players to have attempted at least 50 crosses in the 2025 season.
Even so, this willingness to get the ball into the box suits Spurs’ current approach. Thomas Frank demands his attackers readily put the ball into dangerous areas, evident in that they rank third for total crosses (451) in the Premier League this season. Like Souza, the accuracy doesn’t make for great reading – 19.7 per cent is the fifth-lowest – but it’s clear Spurs have done their homework on the left-back, at least on the ball.
Off the ball, Souza’s approach leaves him suspect to being caught out defensively. Yes, he averaged 2.2 tackles and 1.3 interceptions per 90 last season – the former figure attributed to his recovery defending – but the intensity with which he plays means he does leave space in behind, and this can be exploited by opposition wingers.
Saying that, this can be put down to inexperience at the highest level, and is a quality to his game that can be improved upon.
Additionally, the best Brazilian left-backs – think Marcelo and Roberto Carlos – weren’t great defenders in their own right. Why should Souza buck the trend? He’s fast and very offensive. The athleticism to his game will only serve to benefit Spurs.
The north London side have been hampered by injuries this season, with Destiny Udogie’s absences really hurting the way Spurs stretch the play. Djed Spence is an effective full-back, but the England international’s preference to use his right foot often slows attacks by a second or two.
In the Premier League, where fine margins are the difference between one point and three, those seconds prove costly.
Greater defensive balance
Rather, with Souza at left-back, there will be greater balance to the defence, and to Spurs as a whole. The opening 45 minutes against Sunderland, a game that incidentally Ben Davies started at left-back, served to highlight the importance of a natural left footer down the flank, especially as Frank utilises a winger with a preference to come infield from this side.
Spurs do have other priorities in the January window, notably a right winger in the wake of Brennan Johnson’s sale to Crystal Palace and Mohammed Kudus’ absence for the foreseeable future. A progressive passer in the midfield is also of the utmost importance. However, a left-back was also a necessity given Udogie’s fitness concerns and Davies' recent injury.
Souza may not be the finished product, but he’s undoubtedly a diamond in the rough. Smooth out the edges, and Spurs may have found a real hit in the Brazilian market.