Lucas Piazon

Lucas Domingues Piazon (born 20 January 1994) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Primeira Liga club S.C. Braga.

He plays as a second striker or a winger, as an attacking midfielder.

He spent a decade at Chelsea, though he only played three games for them (one in the Premier League), and was loaned to seven clubs in six countries.

Piazon was born in São Paulo, to António Carlos Piazon, a commercial representative, and Marizabel Domingues, a lawyer.

He had a financially secure upbringing that allowed him to focus on both school and football at the same time.

Both of Piazon's parents took an active role in his career.

He grew up with his sister Juliana, who is three years younger than him and was a Chelsea supporter from an early age, aspiring to play for them some day.

When he was young, Piazon's family moved to Paraná.

Piazon's football skills began to blossom at age eight.

He developed an interest in futsal (indoor football) like other Brazilian men's footballers (such as Zico and Ronaldinho).

He began playing for Coritiba.

At the age of 11, Piazon made the switch from indoor to the field.

Piazon began his professional career with Coritiba.

He made an impression with them becoming top scorer in every youth tournament he appeared in.

In 2007, he moved to neighbouring club, Atlético Paranaense.

He again turned out, as Atlético reached the finals of the U-15 Copa do Brasil in 2008, which they eventually lost to São Paulo.

São Paulo became very impressed with his performance and made an offer.

At the age of 14, Piazon left his family behind in Curitiba and joined São Paulo.

In May, he began to attract the attention of international scouts when he helped guide São Paulo through the Brazilian qualifiers for the Premier Cup (Nike Cup).

It was around this time that he was also called up by Brazil's U-15s.

In August, São Paulo travelled to Manchester for the Premier Cup finals.

In the Group stage, Piazon scored in the 3–0 win versus Manchester United.

São Paulo then went on to beat Werder Bremen in the final match.

In early 2011, Chelsea secured the services of Piazon by means of a pre-contract, having to fight off the interest from a number of the world's leading clubs, including Italian team Juventus.

On 15 March 2011, São Paulo announced that Piazon could only play for the Chelsea senior team after 20 January 2012 when he became eligible to obtain a work visa, but he would join in the 2011 summer transfer window.

Chelsea announced ten days later with Piazon passing a medical in London in early March 2011.

It was reported that Chelsea paid in the region of £5 million to acquire Piazon, which could rise to £10 million depending on several clauses.

He was transferred to Chelsea during the 2011 summer transfer window and started playing for the reserves.

In an interview, he stated, "[I chose Chelsea because] I like the Premier League. I think my way of playing and my skills are more suited to the Premier League."

Piazon made his debut for the reserve team against Fulham, thereafter saying, "I am able to play in the Youth Cup now. Everybody knows I am here to play, so my main aims for the season are to play as many youth games as possible and hopefully feature in the reserves as well, and I want to win the Youth Cup."

He also stated, "I am enjoying the company of Ramires, Alex and, of course, David Luiz is my best friend here. He is so funny and always joking so it's nice."

Piazon scored his first reserve goal in an away victory against Arsenal, just before full-time with a solo effort, inside the box before firing it into the net.

He scored twice in five games for the reserves and once in six for the youth team, most notably the winner in the FA Youth Cup tie against Doncaster Rovers.

He won the FA Youth Cup on 9 May 2012 against Blackburn, although failing to score in the match.

On 20 January 2012, his 18th birthday, Piazon obtained a work visa and became eligible to play for the Chelsea senior team.

On 26 January 2012, he signed a contract extension that would keep him with the club until 2017.

After impressing at Under-18 and Reserve level, Piazon was given the number 35 shirt, which was previously worn by Juliano Belletti.

He was an unused substitute on the Chelsea bench, on 31 January 2012, in their 1–1 league draw against Swansea City and on 5 February 2012, in the 3–3 draw against Manchester United.

Chelsea manager André Villas-Boas said, after the Manchester United game, "He [Piazon] has trained more with the first team, which is very good for him. He's made great progress since arriving and in the last two games was on the bench. Unfortunately, he had no opportunity to enter, but has done a great job in the reserves team. He is a player that we have high hopes for."

On 10 May 2012, Piazon was named Chelsea Young Player of the Year in his first season.