Crystal Palace target Wallace Yan remains under the spotlight in Brazil, as another former Flamengo figure has weighed in on the youngster’s turbulent moment.
Speaking to Globo Esporte, ex-Tottenham left-back Gilberto – who worked for several years as a development coordinator at Flamengo’s academy – offered a mix of tough love and understanding when reflecting on the player’s recent disciplinary issues.
“Wallace is a good kid. At that age, it’s normal not to listen much. I was 18 once and didn’t listen either,” Gilberto said.
“It wasn’t for lack of warning. I was Flamengo’s technical coordinator for four years and spent a lot of time with Wallace. I really liked him and always talked to him”, he continued.
“What people at the club are doing now, and will keep doing, has already been done before. The key is for him to listen, understand and apply that in his daily life.”
Flamengo fined Wallace Yan after his red card against Bahia. The Crystal Palace target picked up two yellows in just ten minutes on the pitch.
Crystal Palace or hard reset in Brazil?
The 20-year-old has also started mental coaching sessions, but while many see this as a positive step, Gilberto made it clear that outside help will only work if the player genuinely takes it on board.
“It’s no use hiring a mentor, a priest, or anyone else if he doesn’t really understand what’s being said,” Gilberto stressed.
“He’s got a lot of talent, that’s always been obvious, but the behavioural side was always an issue too. He’s young, thinks he can do anything, thinks he’s Superman.
“But he’s a good kid, with a big heart. I think now he’s realised things are different from what he imagined. He’s trying to change and getting help for that. I hope he succeeds and brings joy to his fans”, he concluded.
Gilberto worked for four years on Flamengo’s Individual Development Plan (PDI), overseeing academy prospects and mentoring young talents. He first crossed paths with Wallace Yan in 2021, when the player joined the club on loan before signing permanently.
The comments came during a charity event at the Maracanã – an ironic setting, given how the youngster’s story seems to oscillate between promise and frustration.
Despite the noise around him, interest from England remains alive ahead of the January window. Crystal Palace are still viewed as the frontrunners, but Wallace’s situation at Flamengo is complex: the club recognise his potential, yet patience is thinning.
How he handles this period, both mentally and professionally, could decide whether his next move is a Premier League debut or a hard reset back home.
