Juan Alano

Juan Matheus Alano Nascimento commonly known as Juan Alano (born 2 September 1996), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kashima Antlers.

Club Career

Internacional

Starting his career with Trieste Futebol Clube in his home state of Parana, Alano spent his youth football career with Internacional, joining them in 2011 at U-15 level. Working his way through the various age groups, he impressed Internacional B team coach Ricardo Colbachini who described him as an intelligent player who is a quality passer. He made his first-team debut in the now defunct Primeira Liga in 2017, appearing as a 71st minute substitute in a 3-1 win over Criciuma. He went on to make 15 appearances in his debut season for the club, the majority of those in the league and all of them coming from the bench. It wasn't until the 2018 season though until he was handed his first start, this coming in a 2-1 league win over Athletico Paranaense due to a suspension to teammate Edenilson.

Loan to Coritiba

After struggling to break into the first team at Internacional, on 30 January 2019 Alano was loaned out to Serie B club Coritiba until the end of the year. He made 44 appearances across all competitions and helped them secure a third place finish in the league and promotion to Serie A. During this season he scored his first professional goal, scoring in a 3-2 league defeat to Parana.

Kashima Antlers

Despite a successful season with Coritiba, Alano was surplus to requirements at Internacional and on 16 December 2019, Alano was sold to Kashima Antlers for a fee of €1.4m. Kashima handed him the number 7 shirt. There he would join fellow countrymen Leo Silva and Everaldo and was coached by Antonio Carlos Zago. Alano made 34 appearances in all competitions in his debut Kashima season, employed mainly as a right midfielder. He made his debut in a 3-0 league defeat to Sanfrecce Hiroshima, and scored his first goal in a 2-1 win