Hulk saga: Rafael Menin leads SAF Minas talks with striker | OneFootball

The fate of striker Hulk, who is of interest to Fluminense for the upcoming season, remains a mystery. A crucial chapter in the resolution of this saga takes place this Friday, in a meeting between Rafael Menin, one of the shareholders of the Minas Gerais club, and the coaching staff led by Jorge Sampaoli. The Tricolor is closely monitoring the developments.

The player’s transfer to Rio de Janeiro could gain momentum depending on the outcome of the conversation. One of the main reasons leading Hulk to consider a move is his perception that he is not fully integrated into the Argentine coach’s sporting project. The meeting therefore aims to definitively clarify the player’s role on the field for the remainder of the season.

Rafael Menin has taken the lead in the talks to resolve the impasse. He, who was already actively involved, is now centralizing all negotiations regarding the future of the Atlético idol.

Meanwhile, negotiations between Hulk’s staff and the Atlético-MG board are at a standstill. The player’s lawyer, Marisa Alija, is no longer in Belo Horizonte, and the athlete’s team has stated that they will not resume talks until a new development arises. Hulk’s current position is to fulfill his contract, which ends in December, but he has no interest in renewing it through 2027.

With talks between the club and the player stalled, the resolution now depends on negotiations between Atlético-MG and Fluminense. The two clubs have already started discussions to make the transfer possible. The release clause is set at R$ 60 million, an amount that Tricolor has already indicated it does not intend to pay in full.

The disagreement between Hulk and Atlético-MG deepened with the club’s proposal to enhance his image. The offer included building a statue at Arena MRV, a percentage in the SAF, and the production of a documentary. The striker, however, interpreted the proposal as a devaluation of his ability as an athlete, seeing it as an indication that the club wanted to bring his career to an end.

In contrast, Fluminense’s offer proved to be more in line with the player’s wishes, proposing a contract valid until the end of 2027, with the possibility of extension until 2028, focusing on his continuity and performance on the field. Despite the turbulent scenario, Hulk continues to participate normally in training activities at Cidade do Galo.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.