Ancelotti eyes PSV left‑back Mauro Júnior after Brazil call‑up

Mauro Júnior, the 26‑year‑old left‑back who has spent almost his entire professional career at PSV, has received his first senior call‑up to the Seleção Brasileira. The announcement has caught the eye of manager Carlo Ancelotti, who says he will monitor the Brazilian’s progress closely.

Early life and youth career

Nascido em Assis, no interior de São Paulo, Mauro passed through the youth ranks of Desportivo Brasil and also spent a spell in Vasco’s academy. In Brasil he did not manage to break through, prompting an early move abroad.

At 18, he arrived in the Netherlands for the 2017/18 season, signing for PSV. He began with the club’s B team, gradually earning his place in the senior squad.

Ancelotti’s interest and Brazil call‑up

During his time in Eindhoven, Mauro has amassed 206 appearances for PSV, scoring ten goals and providing 31 assists. A loan spell at Heracles in 2019 added valuable experience before he returned to cement his role at PSV.

Left‑footed and standing 1.71 m tall, he started as a midfielder, featured occasionally at right‑back and eventually settled as a left‑back, praised for his involvement in the build‑up of play.

Carlo Ancelotti admitted his Aposta on the player is still tentative, saying: “Mauro is a full‑back who likes to cut inside, very offensive, with a lot of quality. I do not know him well. We are monitoring all left‑backs in Europe… I want to see Mauro Júnior up close because his profile seems very interesting.” The quote appeared in Gávea News, which also credited the accompanying photo to Divulgação/PSV.

He represented Brasil at the South American U15 and U17 championships and was part of the Olympic squad between 2019 and 2020, making five appearances before injuries disrupted his preparation for the Tokyo Games.

In the 2025/26 season, he recorded 11 assists and one goal across 37 matches for PSV. At the start of the current campaign, he has featured in six games, scoring once and adding another assist.

Os supporters have welcomed his national team inclusion, seeing it as a testament to his development abroad.