Gerson torn between Al-Nassr riches and Zenit deal | OneFootball

Gerson’s future at Flamengo is increasingly in doubt, with interest from Al-Nassr complicating what initially looked like a straightforward move to Zenit, according to reporting from Globo.

After Flamengo’s early exit at the Club World Cup, the spotlight has shifted to Gerson’s next destination. While Zenit and Flamengo have a preliminary agreement—confirmed by the Russian club’s president Alexander Medvedev—the midfielder has been swayed in recent days by a lucrative approach from Al-Nassr. The Saudi club’s offer, reportedly nearly double Zenit’s proposed salary, puts them in a strong position to secure Gerson’s signature.

The decisive factor for the Brazilian midfielder appears to be his relationship with Jorge Jesus, who is set to take over at Al-Nassr and has been in direct contact to persuade Gerson to join him. Jesus and Gerson previously worked together at Flamengo, and that shared success is seen as a key reason for Gerson’s openness to the Saudi switch.

Despite Gerson’s approval of Al-Nassr’s terms, his transfer remains unresolved due to an internal dispute within his camp. On one side, Gerson’s father, Marcão, is aligned with intermediary Junior Mendonça, whose channel brought the Zenit bid. On the other, his official agent Carlos Leite is handling the Al-Nassr negotiations, with the Saudi club making clear they will only deal with Leite directly.

This split means the next steps depend as much on off-field maneuvering as on the player’s preferences. Zenit believes it has met all the key conditions for a transfer and is awaiting an official announcement. However, if Gerson opts for Al-Nassr after an agreement has been made with the Russians, he could be liable for a penalty to Zenit.

Flamengo themselves are mostly bystanders at this stage. Following Gerson’s recent contract extension, the release fee is set at €25 million. If a club triggers this amount, Flamengo will simply allow the transfer to proceed and are not actively involved in negotiations.

For now, the midfielder’s future hinges on resolving the internal dispute and choosing between the financial and sporting incentives of Russia and Saudi Arabia. As it stands, the connection with Jorge Jesus and the prospect of a significantly improved salary have made Al-Nassr the favored option, but until the off-field differences are repaired, Gerson’s final destination remains unsettled.

(Source: Globo)

Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images