Marseille roll dice on most expensive rookie in club history

January 31 saw Olympique de Marseille complete their transfer of Portuguese young gun Vitinha from Sporting Braga for 32 million euros ($35m US). A surpriseing move considering the the 'Phocaeans' had lined themselves up to snatch Lorient striker Terem Moffi.

To recruit the 22-year-old Portuguese, OM had to take out the checkbook. Indeed, Braga were not looking to come to the table with Vitinha; OM CEO Pablo Longoria had to drop 32 million euros, bonus included, to have a shot at convincing the Portugese side.

This sum puts the young top striker in the first position of the most expensive players in the history of the club. He is ahead of files like Dimitri Payet who arrived for 29.3 million euros or even Kevin Strootman, from AS Roma against 25 million euros.

Though this transfer that might not have been possible without the will of the player himself. Indeed, Vitinha "wanted to come to Marseille" and has always placed the club as his priority, UK Daily News reported. Could this be the beginning of an icredible club run?

Indeed, Vitinha has all the characteristics to adapt to Igor Tudor's system. The Portuguese is a hard-working attacker, who does not hesitate to make defensive efforts and take the ball at the opponent's feet.

From his real name Vítor Manuel Carvalho Oliveira, Vitinha was born on March 15, 2000 in Cabeceiras de Basto. He has evolved since his first steps as a centre-forward. The Portuguese played for the small club in his town, Águias Alvite, where he studied until 2017. That year, he was spotted by one of the biggest clubs in the country: Sporting Braga.

In the Braga squad, he quickly got noticed by the junior national selections. He played three games with the Portugal U18s and, later, six games with the Espoirs. He also scored three goals in six games with the team. Vitinha discovered the Primeira Liga on February 28, 2022, 11 months ago.

With 14 goals in 38 games in all competitions, the Portuguese had an excellent 2021-2022 financial year and did not stop there. This season, Vitinha with 13 goals in 27 games, including a hat-trick in the Europa League against Belgian club Union Saint-Gilloise. Promising stats for a young number 9, especially since Vitinha isn't just a finisher, he's a very complete striker.

Marseille did not recruit a player like Erling Haaland or Ciro Immobile, players capable of scoring 35 goals per season as result of their fast pace. Vitinha is a totally different profile. We are talking here about a player who likes to evolve in a 4-4-2 with a two-piece point and who, if the opportunity arises, does not hesitate to slip away on the left wing to open spaces to his offensive partners.

Along with this ability to open up spaces for his teammates, the 22-year-old is also a very good passer, with five assists this season. His sense of placement and his good vision allow him to bring the most out his teammates too. This season, he has delighted Simon Banza and Abel Ruiz, the other two Sporting Braga strikers.

In his style of play, Vitinha also relies on his physique. Although he is not particularly tall for a top striker (1.83m), he remains very difficult to move and has a very good heading game. "Athletically, he is very strong. He is a player who sweats through his shirt and never stops" declared Rolando, the former Portuguese defender of OM, to footmarseille.com. These characteristics allow him to be a good player to lean on.

The question is how will Vitinha's game evolve. Will he be associated with Alexis Sanchez at the forefront of the attack in a double attack or in a single attack with Payet and Cengiz Under on the sides? In any case, a starting place in the Marseille attack seems all but certain.

For several years, Marseille has had serious problems finding a quality number 9. Failures Dario Benedetto and Kostas Mitroglou put lead in the wing of the quest for the "great striker". Supporters only dream of one thing, rediscovering the thrills of the Didier Drogba and Mamadou Niang eras – two attackers who made a great impact. Will Vitinha have the shoulders to become OM's next big striker?

Vitinha's adaptation to Marseille will be watched by all Ligue 1 fans, of course, but also by the new Portugal coach, Roberto Martinez, who could give him a chance at their next fixture in March. The 22-year-old has still not been called up for national selection.

The arrival of Vitinha is a huge deal for OM, which is establishing itself as one of the most attractive clubs in Ligue 1. He is not the first player to put down his bags at the Commanderie since Ruslan Malinovskyi and Azzedine Ounahi have joined the Marseille squad. Important reinforcements for the end of the season.

With this very ambitious transfer window, Olympique de Marseille can aim for the heights of the championship this year. With five points ahead of fourth, the podium and the Champions League are more than accessible. Can Tudor's men aim for the title, they who are 5 points behind PSG? We'll find out on February 26 at the Vélodrome for what is set to be showstopping clash.