From idol to rival: Jhon Arias faces Fluminense 18 days after Palmeiras move | OneFootball

Jhon Arias is set to face former club Fluminense only 18 days after his Palmeiras unveiling. The sides meet on Wednesday at Arena Crefisa Barueri in the fourth round of the Brasileiro at 21:30 Brasília time, with the playmaker likely to feature.

The club’s biggest signing of 2026 made his debut on Saturday in a 4-0 Paulistão quarter-final win over Capivariano. He came on after the break, won a penalty and drew praise from Abel Ferreira.

He spent five seasons at Fluminense, winning the 2022 and 2023 Carioca and Taça Guanabara and influencing runs in the Libertadores and Club World Cup, before leaving in July for Wolverhampton. In December he said, “It is always Fluminense. Of course it does not only depend on me, it depends on the club,” he told TNT Sports.

He realised his European ambition with 26 appearances, two goals and one assist in six months. With Wolves bottom of the Premier League on 10 points from 81, a slump that helped open the door for Palmeiras, talks began in January.

Palmeiras offered €25 million and Wolves accepted, then waited to see if Fluminense would match under their right of first refusal. The Rio club reached €20 million at most, having sold him months earlier for €17 million, potentially rising to €22 million. A prior Palmeiras approach had been rejected by president Mário Bittencourt.

Mindful of his Tricolor ties, Palmeiras involved Anderson Barros, president Leila Pereira, coach Abel Ferreira and Richard Ríos, now at Benfica, a Colombia team-mate who stayed in contact. At his presentation, Arias said the club gives him the platform to chase short and medium-term goals, return to winning and aim for the World Cup, and that he turned down Flamengo out of respect for Fluminense.

He arrives as a key piece of a squad refresh, the second addition after exits created room for experienced, title-ready reinforcements.

Source: Globo.com