Palmeiras keep Nino dream alive for second half, situation explained | OneFootball

After heavy investment in the 2025 transfer windows, Palmeiras adopted a more conservative approach at the start of 2026 and brought in only two signings: Marlon Freitas and Jhon Arias. For now, the squad is set, but the club is hoping for at least one more signing for the second half of the year: center back Nino, from Zenit.

Palmeiras was firm in its attempt to sign the former Fluminense defender, but received a no from the Russian club, which did not want to release him in this transfer window. At the time, Verdão had reached an agreement with both the player and his agents and, for that reason, remains optimistic about making a new move in the latter half of the season.

“Nino is a player we identified and have always backed as a signing. It’s not a simple negotiation, especially because there is a club that holds his contractual rights, which is Zenit. But Palmeiras has already met with Maxim (Zenit’s executive director), has been in talks with the representatives and with the player himself. When he was in São Paulo, we met, and we always have to be careful, because any exposure is delicate,” Anderson Barros said in an interview with ESPN.

“The negotiation is currently being handled mainly by the player’s representatives, without such direct involvement from Palmeiras. I met with Maxim, who is the club’s main official, in February. We spoke, made our interest clear, he knows all the terms and, as we have always had a positive relationship with Zenit, we believe it could progress,” the director added.

The defense is one of the areas Palmeiras wants to strengthen. At the beginning of the year, the club lost Micael, who was loaned to Inter Miami until the end of the season, which reduced the squad’s options. Currently, Gustavo Gómez and Murilo are considered starters, with Bruno Fuchs and Benedetti, who still plays for the under-20 team, as backup options on the bench.

“The agent himself and the player believe this situation can progress. Now, we just need the right moment for this deal to happen. I really believe it should move forward,” Barros concluded.

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Danilo’s situation is different

Another area Palmeiras wants to strengthen is midfield, specifically with the signing of a defensive midfielder. Danilo, currently at Botafogo and developed in Verdão’s youth academy, is a long-time target of the club’s board. However, Anderson Barros does not see a favorable scenario for the deal at the moment.

“Danilo is a player who has always had a very close relationship with Palmeiras. He left at a time when there was a need. Very often, when a significant offer comes up, you have to consider it. But today he is at a club going through some complicated situations in its management process. I don’t believe this negotiation can progress now and there is absolutely nothing beyond that,” he said.

Palmeiras did show interest in the midfielder, but the negotiation did not move forward. At the time, John Textor, owner of Botafogo’s SAF, even sent a letter to president Leila Pereira, making it clear that the Rio club had no interest in negotiating Danilo.

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