da fazobetai： The American midfielder is killing it in Spain, earning himself plenty of admirers on both sides of the Atlantic
da casino： The term 'meteoric rise' is thrown around plenty in soccer, and it could easily be used to describe Johnny Cardoso in 2024. Just a few short months ago, the midfielder completed a relatively under-the-radar move to Real Betis. Now, having dominated La Liga since his introduction, the rumor mill is already linking him to Barcelona.
It's insane how quickly Cardoso has adjusted to life in Spain. He's stepped right into one of the league's better teams and established himself as one of that team's better players. It's no fluke that Barca are taking notice – Cardoso has earned that type of attention.
But his rise has only been meteoric to those who haven't been paying attention. The 22-year-old has been a player on the U.S. men's national team radar for years. This summer, though, it looks like he could take a leap from the radar to the starting XI just in time for the Copa America.
Cardoso's reputation is growing, both at home and abroad, and it looks like his rise is only just getting started.
GettyBig move to Betis
Born in New Jersey to Brazilian parents, Cardoso spent nearly all of his life in his family's homeland. He moved back to South America at three months old, and, prior to January's big move, developed his game in one of the most competitive soccer countries on the planet.
After stints with Avai and Criciuma, Cardoso joined the academy of Internacional, rising all the way to the first team. He made his professional debut in 2019, and never really left the starting line up after properly breaking through in 2020. He played at least 22 league matches in each of his final three seasons with the club, while also featuring 11 teams in the Copa Libertadores in 2023.
Throughout that year, the American midfielder was linked with a move to Betis. A proposed summer transfer didn't come to fruition, but the Spanish side came right back in for Cardoso in January. They paid a reported fee of $6.3 million to sign the USMNT midfielder, and what a bargain that is looking like just a few months later.
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It took no time for Cardoso to prove himself with Betis. He was named La Liga's Under-23 Player of the Month in February, and his momentum hasn't slowed down in the weeks since.
Playing under ex-Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini, Cardoso has established himself as one of the league's top midfielders. In fact, defensively, there may not be a better midfielder in Spain. He's in the 99th percentile for interceptions, 96th percentile for clearances and 95th percentile for aerials won. He's also in the 88th percentile for tackles, but he's not just limited to defending; you can find him in the 71st percentile for passing percentage, too.
In addition to his midfield work, he's also provided two assists and a goal. That goal came against Athletic Club, a stunning long-range effort in February's 3-1. win.
In all facets, Cardoso has been a revelation in La Liga, and Europe's top clubs have taken notice.
Getty ImagesBarcelona links
It seems that Cardoso could be in La Liga for a long time, but his stay with Real Betis may be short. reported that both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are chasing the USMNT midfielder, and that both clubs have reached out to his representatives in recent weeks. Cardoso reportedly has a release clause of €80m (£68m/$85m), but Betis would be willing to accept a bid of around €30m (£25m/$32m) if it arrived.
Barca and Atleti aren't the only clubs interested, though. The report adds that Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig are also looking at Cardoso, with both Bundesliga teams having also been in contact with Cardoso's entourage. Premier League clubs and teams in Serie A are also keeping an eye on Cardoso, who looks like he'll be a wanted man this summer.
A potential transfer isn't the only thing on Cardoso's agenda in the coming months, though, as the midfielder will have one eye on the USMNT squad for the Copa America.
Getty ImagesUSMNT career so far
Cardoso has been in and around the USMNT for years. He made his debut in 2020 and, at just 22, already has 11 caps to his name. However, it's never really felt like he's gotten a consistent run of games. It's been an appearance here and there, as he he has started just twice in his grand total of 315 minutes. So, in some ways, the midfielder is still somewhat unproven at international level.
The reason Cardoso has never quite gotten a USMNT shot? The USMNT's established MMA midfielder of Yunus Musah, Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams is all but locked in when healthy. That trio were fantastic in the lead up to and during the 2022 World Cup, and it makes no sense to break up a good thing.
USMNT boss Gregg Berhalter could be forced into some changes, though, and Cardoso could certainly be the answer he's looking for.