Evander, Flamengo's plan B if Almada move falls through? We check | OneFootball

Evander currently plays for Cincinnati (USA)

The transfer window is open and, with it, the volume of speculation surrounding Flamengo has skyrocketed. While the Rubro-Negro is handling talks for Thiago Almada in a complex deal, names are beginning to emerge behind the scenes as possible alternatives. Recently, midfielder Evander, currently at Cincinnati (USA), was mentioned as the Rio club’s supposed ‘Plan B’ for the position.

According to information from Gabriel Reis, Paparazzo Rubro-Negro, confirmed by Coluna do Fla’s reporting, Flamengo has absolutely no interest in signing Evander. Sources linked to the board described the rumor as a typical “agents’ move” aimed at gaining visibility in the market.

That is because Evander’s profile does not fit Flamengo’s parameters for a possible replacement if the deal for Almada does not go through. In addition, in direct contact with Coluna do Fla journalist Jonas Stelmann, sources close to the player himself also denied any kind of approach or inquiry from the Rio club’s board.

HAS EVANDER BEEN ON FLAMENGO’S RADAR BEFORE?

Although Evander’s name is circulating again in the current scenario, the midfielder is not unknown behind the scenes at Ninho do Urubu. At the end of 2023 and the start of 2024, the player was strongly on Flamengo’s radar. During that period, the Rio club even made official offers to the Portland Timbers of the United States, although the talks did not move forward.

At that time, the negotiations were led by Marcos Braz, then Rubro-Negro’s vice president of football, a role now held by José Boto, the club’s current football director. Thus, Evander was the target of a Flamengo approach that included an offer of 7 million dollars, equivalent to about R$ 34 million at the exchange rate at the time, to acquire 60% to 70% of the player’s economic rights. However, the conditions presented did not please the executives of the U.S. team.

WHAT ABOUT ALMADA?

The Rubro-Negro board is currently focusing its efforts on signing Thiago Almada. In an attempt to unlock the deal, football director José Boto traveled to Argentina last weekend. The information from the newspaper ‘Olé’ was confirmed by Coluna do Fla’s reporting.

On Argentine soil, the executive met with agent Agustín Jiménez to move the talks forward. In this way, the Rubro-Negro club is awaiting a decision from the player as soon as possible. The urgency behind the scenes has a clear reason: Flamengo is racing against time because of the Libertadores registration deadline. Therefore, the board must submit the list by next Friday (07), at 6 p.m. (Brasília time).

The Almada deal is worth around 27 million euros (about R$ 158.2 million), and could reach 30 million euros (R$ 175.8 million) with targets and bonuses. However, the negotiation remains tense. After all, River Plate is trying to convince the midfielder with a rival offer and family appeal. Therefore, the player is deciding his future between the two South American clubs, since there are no European offers at the moment.

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