Lucas Piazón

Youth career

Piazon began his professional career with Coritiba. He made an impression with them becoming top scorer in every youth tournament he appeared in. In 2007, he moved to neighbouring club, Atlético Paranaense. He again turned out, as Atlético reached the finals of the U15 Copa do Brasil in 2008, which they eventually lost to São Paulo. São Paulo became very impressed with his performance and made an offer. At the age of 14, Piazon left his family behind in Curitiba and joined São Paulo. In May, he began to attract the attention of international scouts when he helped guide São Paulo through the Brazilian qualifiers for the Premier Cup (Nike Cup). It was around this time that he was also called up by Brazil's U-15s. In August, São Paulo travelled to Manchester for the Premier Cup finals. In the Group stage, Piazon scored in the 3–0 win versus Manchester United. São Paulo then went on to beat Werder Bremen in the final match.

Chelsea

In early 2011, Chelsea secured the services of Piazon by means of a pre-contract, having to fight off the interest from a number of the world's leading clubs, including Italian team Juventus. On 15 March 2011, São Paulo announced that Piazon could only play for the Chelsea senior team after 20 January 2012 when he became eligible to obtain a work visa, but he would join in the 2011 summer transfer window. Chelsea announced ten days later with Piazon passing a medical in London in early March 2011. It was reported that…

A tactical player, Piazon is mainly known for his flair, passing, powerful shooting, free-kicks, penalty kicks, reading of the game and clinical finishing. Piazon commented on his playing style, "I'd say my playing style is different from typical Brazilian forwards. When you think about these, you think about dribbles and flashy moves. My football is simpler and more direct. It's more like a midfielder playing up front. I like to pass quickly. I don't hog the ball and I don't tend to run with it." The media have often drawn comparisons between Piazon and former Brazilian footballing legend Kaká, who was also a playmaker, as the pair possess similar attributes and natural technical finesse. Piazon also somewhat resembles Kaká in appearance. However, Piazon has rejected comparisons saying: "I don't think [we are similar]", Piazon says of Kaká. "My style and his style are different because I am a winger, or a second striker, and he is a central midfielder. He went on to say, "I don't think the comparison is because of our style. I think it is because we both played at São Paulo and maybe we can look similar on the pitch sometimes."

Piazon is a former Brazilian youth international, and has represented Brazil at both U15 and U17 levels. At U15 level, he helped his team to second place in the South American Under-15 Football Championship of 2009 in Bolivia, being the top goalscorer with ten goals. At U17 level, during an international game for Brazil's U17 squad against Paraguay, Piazon scored an impressive goal when he kicked the ball with such force that it broke through the side netting of the goals, in a game which they went on to lose 2–1. In the 2011 U17 World Cup, he scored in a 3–3 draw against the Ivory Coast.

Piazon was born on 20 January, 1994 in São Paulo, Brazil. He is the son of António Carlos Piazon, a commercial representative, and Marizabel Domingues, a lawyer. He had a financially secure upbringing that allowed him to focus on both school and football at the same time. Both of Piazon's parents took an active role in his career. He grew up with his sister Juliana, who is three years younger than him and was a Chelsea supporter from an early age, aspiring to play for them some day. When he was young, Piazon's family moved to Paraná. Piazon's football skills began to come to prominence at the age of eight. He developed an interest in futsal (indoor football) like other Brazilian men's footballers (such as Zico and Ronaldinho). He began playing for Coritiba. At the age of 11, Piazon made the switch from futsal to the field, transitioning into football.