Rayan set to leave Europe and close in on Flamengo | OneFootball

Developed in Flamengo’s youth academy, Rayan Lucas is not expected to stay at Sporting (POR)

Flamengo is expected to have one more defensive midfielder in the squad starting in the second half of the year. It is Rayan Lucas, currently at Sporting (POR). Loaned by the Rubro-Negro last season for 12 months, the 21-year-old player did not impress and is likely to return to Brazil.

According to the Portuguese newspaper ‘A Bola’, the decision has not been 100% finalized yet, but the trend is that the purchase option clause will not be exercised. The amount Sporting would need to pay is 4 million euros, that is, approximately R$ 23 million.

Rayan Lucas’ contract with Flamengo runs until the end of 2028, while the loan deal with Sporting expires next month. The official announcement, however, will only be made after the Taça de Portugal final, when the team of the rubro-negro academy product faces Torreense (POR).

HOW WAS RAYAN LUCAS AT SPORTING?

According to ‘A Bola’, Rayan Lucas arrived at Sporting with high expectations, managed to move up from the B team to the first team, but “lost steam” over time, an expression used by the Portuguese newspaper. The defensive midfielder played 22 matches for the B team and provided one assist. With the main squad, the youngster made just one appearance.

HOW WAS RAYAN LUCAS AT FLAMENGO?

A regular name in Brazil’s youth national team call-ups in recent years, Rayan Lucas is regarded as a gem at Flamengo. That is why the club renewed the player’s contract until 2028 and set his release clause at 50 million euros for foreign clubs (almost R$ 300 million at the current exchange rate).

Rayan Lucas has made eight appearances for Flamengo’s first team: four in 2024 and four last year. At under-20 level, the defensive midfielder won two Libertadores, one Club World Cup, and one Brazilian Championship. At under-17 level, the player won the Copa do Brasil. The academy product is also one of the survivors of the Ninho fire, which occurred in 2019.

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