Fluminense target ex-Flamengo champion Léo Duarte as defensive priority | OneFootball

Fluminense have set their sights on 29-year-old centre-back Léo Duarte, a 2019 Brazilian champion with Flamengo, as they prioritise strengthening at the back for the rest of the season.

According to Coluna Do Fla, the Rio club have found moves for Nino at Zenit in Russia and Adryelson at Al-Wasl in the United Arab Emirates difficult due to costs, so their focus has shifted to Duarte at Basaksehir in Türkiye.

A move for Duarte is viewed as more straightforward. His deal runs until June 2026, meaning he can already sign a pre-contract with any club at no fee. Corinthians and Internacional are also monitoring the defender.

A Flamengo academy graduate, Duarte debuted for the first team in 2016 and truly established himself in 2018, making 49 appearances, the most of his career in a single season. He left midway through 2019 to join Milan in Italy.

His time at Milan was brief, totalling nine games, before a switch to Basaksehir for 2020/21, where he remains. He has played 193 matches there, scoring two goals and supplying four assists.

With Flamengo, he featured in the 2019 Libertadores campaign, won the Carioca in 2017 and 2019, and the Copinha in 2016. He made 92 appearances for the club, scored twice and did not register an assist.

Source: Coluna Do Fla