Manchester United’s scouting trip to Brazil last week put Ricardo Mathias firmly under the spotlight, and the 19-year-old did nothing to cool the hype in his very next game.
He made it clear the interest from Old Trafford was for good reason. Facing Red Bull Bragantino, the striker fought for every ball and scored two classic centre-forward goals, delivering what was close to a perfect performance in a 3-1 win. It was the kind of display that tends to confirm a scout’s first impression rather than raise doubts.
[Asked afterwards about the United links](https://www.terra.com.br/esportes/internacional/a-declaracao-de-ricardo-mathias-do-inter-sobre-o-interesse-do-manchester-united,3284033ac3ff18f9c06eb98c24712f12gdh798sr.html), he played it down and kept the focus on his current club. _“I’m only thinking about Inter, about helping here. I haven’t heard anything about that. They keep me out of it, and that’s better so I can keep improving,”_ he told reporters.
His display earned praise from manager Eduardo Coudet, who highlighted the youngster’s dedication in training. He was a key figure in Inter’s tactical setup, showing speed, precision and opportunism.
The performance underlined his rise this season, as Mathias now has four goals in 12 matches. A player who began the season as a prospect is now gaining the confidence to establish himself as a starter.
Having exceeded expectations for a player of his age, he also stressed his happiness at being in the club: _“I’m very happy to be with the squad, to be helping in training. I’m very happy to be improving.”_
He sure seems to be enjoying his time in the Brazilian league for now, but [Internacional’s board recently revealed details](https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/internacional/noticia/2025/07/09/veja-o-valor-estimado-da-divida-do-inter-e-o-que-se-diz-sobre-receitas-e-debate-sobre-saf.ghtml) about the club’s financial reality, including revenue figures and an estimated debt of around €142m (R$850m).
As we previously reported, his contract carries a €65m release clause – a figure that could tempt Inter to cash in. It’s a scenario that demands constant attention, and a big-money sale of the young striker could be one way of easing the pressure.