Wesley Gassova: Dribbling and Confidence

Wesley Gassova is another player analyzed by Calcio Deal and Rondo Reports.

Join us as we track the trajectory, performance, and projection of this young winger from Corinthians.

We have some data that will surprise you. Check it out!

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The trajectory of Wesley Gassova

Wesley Gassova Teixeira, or simply Wesley, for the fanatics of the Fiel Torcida, was born on May 5, 2005, in São Paulo, Brazil.

His primary position is as a left winger, but he has also played as a second striker and right winger.

His dominant foot is his right and stands at 180cm tall. He holds a market value of €2 million according to Transfermarkt and a release clause of €50 million.

Corinthians has been Wesley’s home right from the start.

As early as 2016, he began his journey with Timão, starting from the under-11s. Since then, he progressed through various categories until making his professional debut in 2022.

His first official game as a professional was in a Copa do Brasil match, in the third round, against Portuguesa do Rio de Janeiro. The match ended 1-1, and Wesley came on the field in the 74th minute.

Despite an early-season appearance, Wesley didn’t secure a consistent spot in the team. To grasp the game better, a fact that is yet to be fully addressed, he was taken back to the youth teams, being integrated into Corinthians’ under-20s.

For this reason, he scored his first goal as a Corinthians professional more than a year after his debut.

The game was quite important. Timão faced Newell’s Old Boys in the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana Round of 16. Wesley came in at halftime and secured Corinthians’ 2-1 victory, which was crucial for the team’s advancement to the next phase, as the return leg in Argentina ended 0-0.

He is one of the youngsters introduced by Vanderlei Luxemburgo during his last stint at Corinthians.

Image: Disclosure

Numbers and Statistics

Let’s start from the beginning. As a professional, Wesley has played 34 matches, scored 2 goals, and provided 1 assist.

At this initial stage, we should freeze this context.

Even considering him a young player, taking into account his time in the professional team and the youth categories, which have raised his level year after year, Wesley’s numbers might be considered modest. Especially when considering the field position he plays in.

Even if he didn’t produce many goals, at least his assist numbers could have been more satisfactory.

As stated by coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo himself, in a press conference after Wesley’s first professional goal mentioned above, “I’ve already told him that an attacker who doesn’t score goals is not an attacker. Regardless of playing on the wings, you have to score goals.”

Image: Zuma Press/PA Images

We agree with Luxemburgo.

Other not-so-positive numbers, provided by Wyscout, are a 72% pass accuracy, successful total actions hovering around 53%, and won duels at 47.7%.

These numbers explain some points for improvement for him but also reveal his strengths.

According to our post in partnership with Rondo Reports, Wesley is the third-best dribbler under-23, outside the Top5 European Leagues. Data provided by Wyscout and Football Observatory:

 

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Uma publicação compartilhada por Rondo Reports (@rondo_reports)

Future Perspectives and Evaluation

According to Rondo Reports, Wesley Gassova:

“Wesley Gassova’s dribbling capabilities would suggest he typifies Brazilian flair – however his dribbling isn’t reflective of Brazil’s ginga street football.

Gassova is much more direct in his dribbling patterns – rather than using tricks to beat players, he uses simple but powerful body feints and variations between short and long touches to burst past defenders.

In this way Gassova is much more reminiscent of Doku’s style – utilising one simple move to square up and beat a flat footed defender.

With Newcastle said to be interested, could Gassova become another member of Newcastle’s growing Brazilian contingency.

Nonetheless the young Brazilian is ready for the right manager to turn him from man beater, to world beater.”

We agree with the analysis here, but we must make some counterpoints.

A striking characteristic of the player is precisely his confidence to perform such dribbles, which is quite positive, especially when considering an athlete of just 18 years.

However, at times, Wesley seems not to understand spaces well, options for passing, and the possibility of finishing.

Having said that, as well highlighted by the colleagues at Rondo Reports, he lacks a coach specializing in young players, capable of adapting his explosiveness and skill to the moments demanded by the game.

In other words, if he chooses the right moment to dribble, pass, and shoot, he can become an even more dangerous player and, above all, increase his percentage of successful attempts and consequently contribute more to goals.

Therefore, considering the mentioned points and the possibility of playing at a high level in the top European clubs, Wesley Gassova receives a rating of 6.3.

And you? Do you agree with the rating? Do you think Wesley could play in the top tier of European football? Comment!

Image: Rodrigo Coca / Ag.Corinthians

Written by Vitor F L Miller.