A Closer Look At Torino’s Gleison Bremer

Earlier this month, league leaders AC Milan visited Torino’s Stadio Olimpico and could only manage a 0-0 draw as their attack was repeatedly thwarted by a resolute Granata backline.

Crucial to that clean sheet was of course the stellar play of Gleison Bremer, who would be named man of the match by all three of Italy’s major sports papers. According to figures taken from WhoScored.com, the Brazilian defender recorded three tackles, four interceptions and six clearances, ensuring Olivier Giroud and Rafael Leao returned home empty handed.

“He’s ready for a big club” wrote the Corriere dello Sport as they summed up his display and, if the transfer rumours are to be believed, Bremer will certainly get a chance to prove that this summer.

According to a report in La Gazzetta dello Sport last week, “everyone wants him” and the pink paper listed Arsenal, Manchester United, Newcastle, Inter Milan, Napoli, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Tottenham as the clubs leading the chase to sign him when the summer transfer window opens.

If and when he does leave Toro, he will do so as a vastly different player to the one who arrived there just four years ago. Back in July 2018 when Bremer first moved to Italy, Walter Mazzarri was in charge of the club, and the former Watford boss spent hours teaching the young defender the nuances of his role.

“In Brazil, man-marking doesn’t exist, but Mazzarri taught me, together with his staff,” Bremer explained in an interview with Torino Channel. The improvements came slowly as he learned a new language – Bremer spoke no Italian when he first landed on the peninsula – and an entirely new way of playing.

The fact he was trusted to start just two Serie A games and make three more substitute appearances highlight just how much he had to learn, but what has happened since is a testament to the hard work Bremer put into doing just that.

By the time the 2019/20 season began, he was ready, and 27 Serie A starts followed, with another 33 in the following campaign and 30 more this season already. But not only is Bremer now a fully established member of the Torino first XI, he’s undeniably among the most complete, most in-form defenders in Italy.

Every time he steps out on the pitch, he is going up against high quality attacking players, and more often than not, Bremer is coming out on top. Milan scored once from open play in 180 minutes against him, Lazio the same. Juve star Dusan Vlahovic has been held goalless, as has the Inter duo of Lautaro Martínez and Edin Dzeko.

WhoScored.com shows that Bremer leads all Serie A players with 3.4 interceptions per 90 minutes, while only three players have made more clearances than his average of 4.1. He is comfortable in possession too, connecting with 82% of his 45.5 passes per 90 this season, a figure affected by Toro’s fast-paced playing style.

Despite the fact he’s only 6’ 2” tall (1.88m) only three players – Salernitana striker Milan Djuric, Cagliari forward Leonardo Pavoletti and Samp midfielder Morten Thorsby – have won more aerial duels than Bremer’s 4.1 per 90 minutes.

So we can see that Italy has moulded him into becoming a rugged man-marker who is excellent in the air, yet his Brazilian roots mean he is more than comfortable with the ball at his feet.

A hybrid that harnesses those two very distinct footballing cultures, he has been a weapon at set pieces too, using that aerial prowess to weigh in with 11 goals and two assists over the past three seasons.

In the interest of transparency, it has to be noted that the one question mark would be Bremer’s ability to slot into a team playing four at the back, as both Mazzarri and current Torino boss Ivan Juric have exclusively used three-man defences.

But scouts and observers clearly believe his skills are transferable between systems, as the growing interest in him confirms. Bremer will almost certainly leave Torino this summer, but he has ensured his current club will be well paid when that happens, signing a new contract with the Granata in February.

All that remains now is to see which of those European giants makes their move because, as Il Corriere wrote, there is no doubt that Gleison Bremer is ready for a big club.