QPR teen can emulate Leeds United and Sheff Utd stars next season, and Championship isn't ready - opinion

QPR boss Marti Cifuentes is ready to sit down and plan for the 2024/25 season at Loftus Road with Championship survival confirmed. The R’s head coach is targeting something more than another year battling for survival.

That will no doubt point to new blood coming through the door at Loftus Road with an injury ravaged campaign this time out highlighting the need for strength in depth. However, QPR also have rising stars in the academy who could be ready to take the Championship by storm.

One of those is Brazilian full-back Esquerdinha, who was signed by QPR at the end of the January transfer window. The former Fluminense man was said to have Premier League suitors at the time, with Barcelona also known to be watching his progress, making the move a real coup for the London side.

Cifuentes has not been afraid to trust youth this term with Kieran Morgan, Alfie Lloyd and Rayan Kolli all impacting the team. Esquerdinha came to QPR with plenty of hype and, while it’s early days, there’s clearly a lot to be excited about.

Esquerdinha can carve big QPR future

Speaking to the club website when signing for the club, the defender said: "I'd like to say thank you to QPR for bringing me here. Now I want to play well, I want to do my job. This is a very exciting move for me.

"The club sold the project to me and really believe in what I can do as a player. They want to improve me so that one day, I can help the first team. I'm really excited to develop in my football now. I'm an offensive player who likes to keep possession, take shots and also put crosses into the box. I want to show what I can do as quickly as possible in order to make it to the first team."

QPR CEO Christian Nourry added: "The club's new approach to being more aggressive with Development Squad signings continues today with the arrival of Esquerdinha. He has demonstrated at youth level for Brazil, and in his limited minutes with Fluminense, that he has the potential to develop into an interesting talent in the context of our inverted full-back profile."

Esquerdinha described his playing style as ‘offensive’ in his first words spoken to the club and that certainly looked to be the case in his recent outing for the Development Squad. The QPR youth squad came from behind to beat Cardiff City Under-21s 2-1 with the club’s report of the match making it clear that the defender was the star of the show.

Esquerdinha delivered a ‘wicked free-kick’ from distance when 1-0 down, forcing a finger-tip save from Cardiff goalkeeper Luke Armstrong. The Brazilian once again ‘showed his keen eye for goal’ after the break with Armstrong forced to make two more saves. He then picked up both assists to help the turnaround, being fouled in the penalty box to win a spot kick and then seeing a shot fall into the feet of Rohan Vaughan for the winner.

QPR teenager can emulate Leeds United and Sheffield United stars

It’s a mouth-watering report from the club with Esquerdinha showing the potential to go on and potentially become a prolific left-back in the league with his appetite to shoot. So far this season, Leeds United man Junior Firpo and Sheffield United defender Harrison Burrows are top scorers in that position with five and four goals each - Oxford United star Greg Leigh also has four goals to his name.

Firpo, who scored in the 6-0 romp over Stoke City on Monday, has been hailed as ‘unbelievable’ by Championship goalscoirng legend Billy Sharp this season for his attacking output. Meanwhile, Burrows has been labelled the ‘best left-back in the league’ for the Blades by Football League World, having won his side 11 points this term with his goal and assists. Esquerdinha could be the next to follow in those footsteps and stun the Championship - the importance of such a player to a team evident with those clubs competing for promotion this year.

In a deep dive into the player’s style after the move to QPR, World Football Index wrote: “First and foremost, Esquerdinha is a forward-thinking fullback. He’s always looking to get up the pitch, progress the ball, and get crosses in.

“Calm and composed on the ball, he is a good passer and typically averages around 83% completion rate, based on stats from his senior minutes. This comfort in possession allows Esquerdinha to contribute to the build up in inverted roles too.”

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