Hellas Verona Set For ‘Benzema Mk II’ As Brazilian Isaac Touches Down In Italy
The 21-year-old Brazilian striker is close to signing for Verona.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Updated on 07 January 2026
Hellas Verona are about to complete the signing of Atletico Mineiro forward Isaac Aguiar Tomich.
The Brazilian club announced on their website that they had struck a deal with the Serie A outfit for the 21-year-old.
Isaac touched down in Italy on Wednesday, with his Verona medical scheduled for Thursday.
With several of Verona’s players wanted by rivals in Serie A, Isaac’s arrival comes as a timely and exciting boost.
What can Gialloblu fans expect from Isaac? Footitalia takes a closer look.
New Verona signing Isaac Aguilar Tomich compares himself to Karim Benzema
Standing 6ft 1in tall and holding dual Brazilian and Croatian citizenship, Isaac has made a big name for himself in Brazilian youth football.
His career path began in Atletico Mineiro’s youth academy, where he joined at just 12 years old and quickly rose through the ranks.
The turning point for Isaac came in the 2023 Copa Sao Paulo, the most prestigious Under-20 tournament in Brazil.
He scored five goals in five games, despite Atletico Mineiro only reaching the last 16.
Isaac made six senior appearances for his parent club and also enjoyed a loan stint at Portuguese top-flight outfit Nacional.
He made 29 outings for the Madeira-based club in the 2024/25 campaign, scoring three times and registering an assist.
.@HellasVeronaFC, Isaac è arrivato in Italia: “Non vedo l’ora di iniziare. Scelto un grande club con un bel progetto”. @SkySport pic.twitter.com/0NcrqeIqFq
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) January 7, 2026
Isaac is a dynamic striker with clear technical quality, able to adapt to a range of attacking situations.
Naturally a centre-forward, he can operate right across the front line and is happy to get involved in the build-up.
Isaac’s best work comes when attacks are played forward early, so that he can attack channels and arrive across the near post.
“I really like Karim Benzema’s style,” Isaac said in an interview relayed by Gianluca Di Marzio.
He continued: “I like to come out of the area, not just stand still waiting for the ball.
“I like to participate in the game, come towards the opponents and provide assists.”
Verona are likely to give Isaac time to acclimatise and develop into a top player, rather than throw him in at the deep end.
Isaac to Verona: the details
Atletico Mineiro announced on Tuesday that Verona had indeed struck a deal for Isaac.
They said the deal involves the transfer of part of the player’s economic rights and an option to purchase a further percentage.
Furthermore, Atletico Mineiro have retained 50 percent of the player’s economic rights, allowing for a financial return in the future.
They concluded: “Good luck in this new chapter, homegrown talent!”
Isaac also spoke about his move to Verona when he touched down in Italy.
“I can’t wait to begin,” he told reporters. “I’ve chosen a great club with a nice project.”
With the likes of Giovane on Roma’s radar, along with that of Lazio, it’s good to see such an exciting new arrival in Isaac.
Verona, who currently sit in the relegation zone, are next in action on Wednesday evening as they head to Napoli.
Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte is a sports journalist with over a decade of professional experience in the industry. His main professional expertise is in soccer. Prior to joining FootItalia, he worked for the likes of Sports Mole, TBR Football, the Chelsea Chronicle and numerous other sites, along with having bylines in the likes of the Nottingham Post. He holds degrees in Journalism and International Relations.
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