Manchester United moves to sign Vini Jr and could pay more than R$1 billion

To cap off a busy transfer window led by José Boto, Flamengo is still dreaming of the return of Lucas Paquetá. A product of the club's youth academy, the player has a strong connection with the club, which is seeking to emotionally connect him with a potential return to Rio de Janeiro.

However, the path to this goal isn't straightforward. Lucas Paquetá remains highly valued in European football, and his name was recently linked with a potential trade deal involving Jack Grealish , which would see the Brazilian join Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad. The deal, while uncertain, demonstrates how highly regarded the player remains on the Old Continent.

HALF WAS CLEARED OF CHARGES

On Monday (4), new information emerged about Paquetá's position . According to international media outlets, the player, recently cleared of charges of involvement in sports betting manipulation, is determined to prioritize staying in Europe.

Lucas Paquetá is currently linked to West Ham , where he plays regularly. Despite interest from several clubs around the world, the English team is cautious and is only willing to sell him if a minimum offer of €60 million is reached, which is equivalent to approximately R$382.1 million at the current exchange rate.

FLAMENGO SEES PAQUETÁ AS A DREAM

The athlete's stance represents a disappointment for Flamengo 's plans, which saw Paquetá as the perfect signing to round out the squad led by Filipe Luís. Despite this, the Rio de Janeiro club continues to monitor the situation and maintains hopes , albeit remote, of facilitating the 27-year-old's return to Brazilian football.

Flamengo officially announced last Saturday (02) the signing of Colombian midfielder Jorge Carrascal, 26, as reinforcement for the rest of the season. He is the fourth name to arrive at the club in this transfer window. After undergoing medical examinations and signing a four-year contract , the player was presented this Monday (04), in a press conference at Ninho do Urubu, where he wore the number 15 shirt for the first time.

To sign the player, the club invested 12 million euros (approximately R$77.1 million) in a deal involving Dynamo Moscow and Atlético-MG . The delay in releasing the documents was due precisely to the fact that it was a triangular transaction, which also included the sale of Galo player Rubens.

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PLAYER ALREADY TRAINS WITH THE SQUAD

Although he's already training with the group and is physically fit to play, Carrascal still needs to be registered with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The midfielder's name must be included in the Daily Information Bulletin (BID) for him to officially debut for the Mais Querido.

The coaching staff, led by Filipe Luís, is evaluating the best time to use the new reinforcement. Internally, there is optimism that the Colombian will be fit for next Saturday's (09) game against Mirassol, for the Brazilian Championship. If the documentation is up to date, Carrascal will be able to play alongside Arrascaeta, expanding Flamengo 's attacking possibilities.

In recent days, reports from Russia have circulated about a possible deal between Zenit and Flamengo. Matheus Gonçalves ' name has been linked to a direct swap deal with Robert Renan, a defender who plays for Al-Shabab and is currently on loan at the Russian club. Despite the rumors, sources close to the Mais Querido state that "nothing has been officially discussed at this time" regarding the deal with the former Corinthians defender.

Matheus Gonçalves was once close to an agreement with CSKA Moscow, but the Russian club is still awaiting authorization from Mengão to formalize a new offer. Meanwhile, two other foreign teams have expressed interest. One is based in the United Arab Emirates, and the other is in Europe, but outside the most prominent leagues.

OFFER HAS NOT ARRIVED YET

So far, no official offer has been received by Flamengo . The amounts are expected to be close to those presented by CSKA , with variations in the percentages of the economic rights. The Rio de Janeiro club is considering its options: receiving a higher sum immediately or maintaining a stake in a possible future resale.

RESERVE AGAINST CEARÁ

Starting in the first leg against Atlético-MG, valid for the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, Matheus Gonçalves had a discreet performance and did not take advantage of his chance among the starting eleven players.

Despite his potential, Matheus had few opportunities in the main squad this season , the last game against Ceará, last Sunday (09), the athlete did not even leave the bench and was not an option for the Brazilian Championship.