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If you follow football even casually, you may have seen Guilherme Madruga's bicycle kick. It was the goal that won the FIFA Puskas Award, a moment of breathtaking audacity that went viral across every social media platform. The execution, the timing, the sheer audacity of attempting a bicycle kick from outside the box, it was a goal that deserved every superlative thrown at it.
What most people do not know is that Madruga is still playing professional football, and he is doing so at a level that demands attention. Now 25, the Brazilian midfielder is at Shandong Luneng in the Chinese Super League, and his numbers are exceptional.
The profile
An OVR of 75 puts Madruga in the category of a solid top-five European league midfielder. For context, that rating is comparable to many Premier League and La Liga regulars. His market value of EUR 490-800K, however, is a fraction of what equivalent players command in Europe.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| OVR | 75 |
| Age | 25 |
| Position | Central Midfielder |
| UV Score | 99 (Highly Undervalued) |
| Deal Score | 84 |
| Market Value | €490K – €800K |
| Contract | 2026 (5 months remaining) |
Why he is so cheap
The Chinese Super League's profile has diminished dramatically since its peak spending era. European scouts rarely monitor the league, and the few who do tend to focus on established stars rather than hidden gems. Madruga's Brazilian nationality also works against him in terms of visibility: Brazil produces so many midfielders that even exceptional talents can slip through the cracks.
But the data tells a different story. Madruga's UV score of 99 means the skouted.ai model sees enormous disparity between his actual quality and his market valuation. His deal score of 84 reinforces this: the combination of low cost and high ability makes him one of the most attractive transfer opportunities in the database.
What kind of player is he?
Madruga is a complete central midfielder. He is comfortable operating as a number 8 or a number 10, with the technical ability to unlock defenses and the work rate to contribute defensively. His Puskas-winning bicycle kick was not a fluke: it was the product of a player with extraordinary technical gifts and the confidence to attempt the impossible.
- Technical: Elite ball control, creative passing range, spectacular finishing ability
- Physical: Good engine, capable of covering ground, effective presser
- Mental: Brave in possession, willing to take risks, big-game temperament
The opportunity
With five months left on his contract at Shandong Luneng, Madruga is available at a significant discount. A club could sign him for under EUR 500K in a permanent transfer, or wait until January to negotiate a pre-contract on a free.
UV score of 99 signals significant undervaluation. Contract expiring in 5 months, available at a discount.
For a mid-table club in any of Europe's top five leagues, Madruga would be an immediate squad upgrade at a negligible cost. For a club in the Eredivisie, Primeira Liga, or Belgian Pro League, he could be a transformative signing.
The AI verdict is clear: strong buy. A Puskas Award winner with an OVR of 75 for under EUR 800K is the definition of a market inefficiency waiting to be exploited.
View full profile and AI-powered transfer intelligence at skouted.ai