Keeping an eye on the rival: Athletico-PR faces Flamengo with absences and hangings

Right-back Kyle Walker's move to newly-promoted Burnley has opened a gap in Manchester City's squad. The 35-year-old defender opted not to stay at the club despite having a contract until 2026 , and ended his career under Pep Guardiola, in which he was a key player in successful campaigns, such as the 2022/23 Treble.

With his departure confirmed, the English club is evaluating alternatives in the market to strengthen the sector , and the name of Wesley, a standout player at Mais Querido, appears as one of the main options. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the Citizens are considering formalizing an offer for the young full-back.

SHORT CAST IN POSITION

Manchester City currently only have Rico Lewis, 20, and Issa Kaboré, 24 , as their right-backs. Neither of them, however, has managed to establish themselves in the starting line-up, which led Guardiola to improvise midfielder Matheus Nunes in the role.

Given this scenario, the hiring of a consolidated full-back becomes urgent. Wesley, 21, has been standing out since Filipe Luís arrived on the coaching staff and is attracting attention from European football due to his speed, marking and offensive projection.

ROME PRESENTS FORMAL OFFER

While Manchester City is still evaluating the terms of a possible move, Roma has already made progress in negotiations with a concrete proposal. The Italian club offered around 25 million euros (around R$160 million), including bonuses, through a loan model with an obligation to buy — a common strategy to get around limitations imposed by UEFA's Financial Fair Play.

Thiago Mendes is Vasco da Gama's new signing. Free on the market after the end of his contract with Al-Rayyan, from Qatar, the midfielder signed a contract with Cruzmaltino for two and a half seasons. The information was initially released by Venê Casagrande and confirmed by sources linked to the club . Despite not having made a recent offer, Flamengo is well aware of the name.

The midfielder was on the club's agenda on two occasions: 2021 and 2022. On both occasions, negotiations did not progress, either due to Lyon's financial demands at the time or due to a change of direction by the red-black board. Flamengo's first contact with Thiago Mendes took place in 2021.

NOVEL EXTENDED UNTIL 2025

The board led by Rodolfo Landim explored the possibility of a loan with an option to buy from Lyon. The French club, however, toughened up the negotiations and did not facilitate the release. Without success, Rubro-Negro ended up hiring Andreas Pereira. The following year, the talks resurfaced.

RIVAL TAKES OLD DESIRE FROM FLAMENGO

With Thiago Mendes' contract coming to an end, Flamengo's directors believed that it would be possible to move forward for a more affordable price. Lyon once again asked for financial compensation, frustrating the plans . The outcome was the arrival of Arturo Vidal. Now, in 2025, the story has a new chapter without Flamengo's participation.

Thiago Mendes, who is free on the market, was offered to Vasco and quickly approved by Fernando Diniz. The player is expected this Saturday (05) in Rio de Janeiro to sign a contract until the end of 2027. Vasco's move is surprising due to the timing and the player's profile. At 33 years old, the midfielder arrives with the status of a starter and reference, betting on the experience acquired in Europe and Arab football.

Flamengo secured around R$3 million with the transfer of midfielder Vinícius Souza to Wolfsburg, Germany. The German club paid 15 million euros (approximately R$95.8 million) to acquire the player from Sheffield United, England.

The amount allocated to Rubro-Negro is related to FIFA 's solidarity mechanism, which determines the division of 5% of the total value of international negotiations between the clubs that participated in the athlete's training between the ages of 12 and 23. As Flamengo had the player until he was 21, the amount to which it is entitled is 3.05%.

LINK WITH WOLFSBURG

Officially announced on Wolfsburg's social media, Vinícius Souza was called "Garoto do Ninho" , in reference to his training at Mengão's youth academy. The contract signed with the German club will be valid until 2030, consolidating the new step in the 26-year-old athlete's career.

Vinição's performance, as he is known , throughout his time in Europe was marked by defensive consistency and good positioning, which caught the attention of the Bundesliga club. The expectation is that he will assume a relevant role in the Wolves' midfield in the coming seasons.

INTERNATIONAL CAREER

Born in Padre Miguel, a neighborhood in the west zone of Rio, Vinícius Souza began his career with Mengão's under-15 team in 2014. Promoted to the main squad in 2019, he had his first opportunity in the final minutes of a match in the Campeonato Carioca. That same year, he was part of the historic squad led by Jorge Jesus, winning the Libertadores and Brasileirão titles.