Marquinhos Relishes U-17 Debut and Aims for Stronger Performance in Upcoming Friendly

In a remarkable showing, Athletico-PR produced the highest number of players called up to the Brazil U-17 National Team, with five representatives selected. Among them, right-back Marcos Pesseti, known as Marquinhos, made his debut in the friendly match against the United States, starting in the lineup and contributing to a 4-0 victory. Now, with his first match behind him, he looks forward to another chance to shine in the next friendly scheduled for Wednesday.

For Marquinhos, managing his nerves was a priority leading up to this significant moment. The young athlete turned to his family for support as he prepared for the match. "It was always a dream to be here, and I managed to make it come true," he expressed. "Before joining up, I was very anxious to come. I talked to my mother and my family every day. But, thank God, I managed to have a good debut and perform well in the match." He noted that while nerves hit him at first, he was able to regain his focus and deliver a solid performance.

Looking ahead, Marquinhos and his teammates aim to enhance their tactical execution in the upcoming match. Reflecting on the previous friendly, he stated, "It was a game where Brazil was far superior. I think the United States team wasn’t able to put us under much pressure. Our man-marking changed their game a bit, and we were exceptional going forward as well."

After spending a week training with the national team, Marquinhos feels increasingly settled, a process aided by the presence of four fellow Athletico-PR players—center-back Murilo Camargo, midfielder Gustavo Guedes, and forwards William Bispo and Bryan Lima. "I think it was one of the first times Athletico had five players called up at once, and that was really cool. My teammates are helping me a lot, just as I’m helping them in this first call-up," he remarked, emphasizing the camaraderie shared among the players.