Boto goes beyond Bap ceiling as Luiz Henrique move stalls at Flamengo | OneFootball

Flamengo’s pursuit of Luiz Henrique has hit a budget roadblock, with internal disagreement over spending halting progress despite prior advances with Zenit. The player had approved the interest.

According to Globo.com, director José Boto readied a 30 million euros bid plus five million in add-ons, not formalised. President Luiz Eduardo Baptista, Bap, then stopped it, citing a 20-25 million euros ceiling from the Thiago Almada talks. Flamengo later said there had been no formal offer, only discussions up to 25 million euros.

Zenit is open to three-year payment terms but wants close to 35 million euros. Multiple agents are involved, and Bap has barred Boto from any deal above the budget.

Inside the club there had been confidence, with announcement plans already discussed. The process is now paused.

Flamengo have long pursued Luiz Henrique. Before Botafogo moved, officials met him in Spain under Rodolfo Landim and he liked the project, but the club lacked funds then.

With Thiago Almada unresolved, Boto travelled to Argentina to accelerate talks without success, and his later comments displeased the player’s camp. Coach Leonardo Jardim prioritised a midfielder and a winger.

Jardim had hoped for reinforcements by now. Luiz Henrique started for Zenit on Wednesday, so he would arrive match fit, unlike Almada, who is on holiday.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”