He was supposed to be the next big thing at Manchester United. Or maybe Udinese. Or Nantes. Honestly, the career of Lucas Evangelista Santana de Oliveira has felt like a decade-long exercise in "what if." One minute he’s a teenager being courted by Sir Alex Ferguson’s scouts, and the next, he’s a journeyman trying to find his footing in the French rainy season. But if you’ve been watching Brazilian football lately, you’ve noticed something shifted.
Lucas isn't the "prospect" anymore. He’s the engine.
Now 30 years old, the man from Limeira has finally stopped running toward the next big European dream and started dominating exactly where he is. Currently pulling the strings for Palmeiras after a massive stint at Red Bull Bragantino, Lucas Evangelista Santana de Oliveira has become the blueprint for the modern Brazilian "8." He isn’t just a guy who passes the ball; he’s the guy who decides how the game is going to feel for everyone else on the pitch.
The Manchester United Trial and the "Almost" Years
Let’s go back to 2012. Imagine being 17 and flying to England because Manchester United wants to see if you’re the next Paul Scholes. That actually happened. Lucas was at Desportivo Brasil, a club known for its partnership with United. The deal looked done.
It fell through.
Instead of Old Trafford, he ended up at São Paulo FC. It wasn’t a bad "Plan B," but it set a tone for his career: high expectations met with weird administrative hurdles. When he finally got his move to Europe with Udinese in 2014 for about €4 million, the Italian side didn't really know what to do with him. He was a central midfielder, but they played him as a winger. Sometimes as a second striker.
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When a player doesn't have a home on the pitch, they start to disappear. Loans to Panathinaikos in Greece and Estoril in Portugal followed. It was at Estoril where we finally saw the real Lucas. He was an undisputed starter, making the list of the top 33 players in the Portuguese league. That earned him a five-year deal at Nantes, but once again, the "European Curse" hit. Managers changed, systems shifted, and Lucas found himself back on a plane to Brazil.
Why Red Bull Bragantino Changed Everything
Joining Red Bull Bragantino in 2020 was the smartest move Lucas Evangelista Santana de Oliveira ever made. Period. Bragantino isn't your typical Brazilian club; they operate like a data-driven machine. They saw that Lucas wasn’t a flashy goalscorer, but a possession monster.
During his years in Bragança Paulista, his stats became ridiculous:
- He consistently ranked in the top 80th percentile for progressive passes.
- His ability to recover the ball in the middle third was among the best in Série A.
- He became the club's captain and a symbol of their rise to the top of South American football.
He stayed there until March 2025. By then, he had played over 200 games for the club. He wasn't the kid who failed at United anymore. He was the veteran everyone in Brazil wanted to sign.
The Big Move to Palmeiras
When Palmeiras dropped around €4 million to bring him to the Allianz Parque in early 2025, it was a statement. They weren't buying potential; they were buying a finished product. At 30, Lucas is in that sweet spot where his physical stats (he’s 181cm and still covers 11km a game) match his tactical intelligence.
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Playing under the intense pressure of the Verdão fanbase is different than playing at Bragantino. But he’s handled it. In the 2025 season, he racked up 46 appearances across all competitions. Whether it was the Copa Libertadores or the FIFA Club World Cup, Lucas was the guy Abel Ferreira trusted to keep the ball when things got chaotic.
The Style of Play: What Makes Him Different?
If you watch a Palmeiras game today, don't look for Lucas on the scoresheet. He doesn't score much—maybe 2 or 3 goals a season. Honestly, his finishing is still his biggest weakness. But look at his left foot.
Lucas plays with a "la pausa" style. He’ll receive the ball under pressure from two defenders, hold them off with his 79kg frame, and then play a 40-yard diagonal pass that looks effortless. He’s a "connector." He links the defense to the attack. Without him, the team looks disjointed. With him, the game looks slow and easy.
People forget he started as a centre-back in the São Paulo youth ranks. That’s why he’s so good at defending today. He doesn't just wait for the ball; he hunts it. In 2025, he averaged nearly 2 tackles per 90 minutes, which is high for a creative midfielder.
The Reality of His Market Value in 2026
As of early 2026, Transfermarkt puts his value at roughly €4 million. Some might say that’s low for a player of his quality. But you have to remember his age and the fact that he’s likely staying in Brazil for the rest of his prime.
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He’s currently under contract with Palmeiras until December 31, 2026. There’s been talk of a final "adventure" in the Middle East or perhaps a return to a mid-table European side, but honestly? He seems settled. He’s playing the best football of his life in his home country, earning a great salary, and competing for the biggest trophies in the Americas.
What We Get Wrong About Him
The biggest misconception about Lucas Evangelista Santana de Oliveira is that he was a "flop" in Europe. That’s too simple. If you look at his time at Estoril or even his early days at Nantes, he performed. The issue was always stability. He was a "loan army" casualty.
In Brazil, he found a structure that valued his specific traits. He isn't Neymar. He isn't Vinícius Júnior. He is the guy who makes sure those types of players get the ball in the right positions.
Actionable Takeaways for Following His Career
If you're a scout, a fantasy football manager, or just a fan of the tactical side of the game, here is how to track Lucas in 2026:
- Watch the "Progressive Passes" stat: This is the best indicator of whether Lucas is having a good game. If he’s hitting over 8 progressive passes, Palmeiras is likely winning.
- The Hamstring Factor: He struggled with a hamstring injury late in 2025. His longevity in 2026 depends entirely on his fitness staff managing his minutes in the grueling Brazilian calendar.
- Set Piece Involvement: He’s become a secondary specialist for corners and wide free kicks. His left-footed delivery is lethal when he’s got big targets like Gustavo Gómez in the box.
Lucas Evangelista Santana de Oliveira is proof that a career isn't over just because it didn't follow the "Wonderkid to European Superstar" script. Sometimes, the most interesting stories are the ones where the player has to leave, learn, and come back home to finally find his throne. He’s the most underrated player in Brazil right now. Period.