Cruzeiro strike deal with Zenit, seal Gerson signing for the 2026 season | OneFootball

On Thursday (8), Cruzeiro finalized the signing of midfielder Gerson, 28, from Zenit, Russia. After a long and complex negotiation, the Raposa reached an agreement with the European club and completed the largest transaction in its history and also in Brazilian football in absolute terms.

The deal was closed for 27 million euros plus 3 million in bonuses, reaching a total of 30 million euros (an amount that exceeds R$ 188 million at the current exchange rate) and marks a significant investment by the celestial SAF in the market. The last proposal presented by Cruzeiro was well received by Zenit's management, who accepted the offered amounts, ending the negotiations that had been dragging on in recent weeks.

Cruzeiro even made a proposal involving money combined with the sale of defender Jonathan Jesus – the player attracted Zenit's interest –, but after the initial training sessions, Tite and the coaching staff saw great potential in the defender to contribute to the club during the 2026 season and opted for the player's retention.

Gerson arrives at Cruzeiro with a 4-year contract after being thoroughly evaluated by the club's football department and also as a direct request from coach Tite. The coach worked with the midfielder both in the Brazilian National Team and at Flamengo and sees the player as a central piece for the Raposa's project starting from the 2026 season.

During this week, Marcão, Gerson's agent and father, was present at Toca da Raposa II for meetings with Cruzeiro's management. The discussions advanced regarding salary figures, contract duration, and other pending issues, which were aligned on the afternoon of this Thursday (8), allowing the conclusion of the deal.

Another important figure in the negotiations was agent André Cury, who initially entered the deal to take Jonathan Jesus to the Russian club, but, as mentioned earlier, the deal did not progress with the defender. Upon leaving Toca da Raposa, André Cury spoke to the press about the agreement: “The club's desire, Pedrinho, Spindel actively participating. He chose the right project, with a World Cup next year, the player will be closer.”

The official announcement is expected to happen between today and tomorrow (Friday, 9) with the player's signing of the contract. Cruzeiro also awaits the completion of bureaucratic procedures with the Russians, as well as Gerson's arrival to undergo medical exams.

History

Revealed by Fluminense, Gerson stood out in Brazilian football and was soon sold to Italian football, with stints at Roma and Fiorentina, before returning to Brazilian football, playing for Flamengo and being a major highlight in the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons, when he was sold to Olympique de Marseille, France. Unable to adapt to European football, he returned to Flamengo, playing for three more seasons (2023 to 2025) before being sold to Zenit, Russia, where he could not adapt.

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