Cruzeiro and Europe! Flamengo beat rivals to sign Sport's Zé Lucas | OneFootball

Who is Sport’s rising star who is negotiating with Flamengo?

Flamengo is already making moves ahead of the opening of the second transfer window, which begins this Monday (20). One of the players on Mengão’s radar is Zé Lucas, a promising youngster from Sport. The Rubro-Negro will, in fact, face competition to sign the young defensive midfielder.

According to information from ‘Lance!’, Cruzeiro has also shown interest in signing Zé Lucas and has spoken with Sport’s directors. In addition, Brighton (ENG), Real Betis (ESP), two French teams, and a Russian club are monitoring the midfielder’s situation.

Has Zé Lucas been sidelined by Sport?

Amid Zé Lucas’ negotiations with Flamengo, Sport decided to leave Zé Lucas out of the team’s upcoming matches. It is worth noting that the Recife side is playing in Brazil’s Série B after being relegated from the top division last season.

“Sport Club do Recife informs that, in a joint decision by the board and the football department, player Zé Lucas will not be included in the squad for the upcoming Campeonato Brasileiro Série B matches.

This measure was adopted due to ongoing negotiations involving a possible transfer for the player, seeking to preserve all parties during this process.

The Club will continue conducting the talks responsibly and transparently, keeping the fans informed of any relevant developments,” the club said.

Who is Zé Lucas, Sport’s rising star?

Developed in Sport’s youth academy, Zé Lucas played 34 matches in the 2025 season. Despite the relegation of the Pernambuco side, the young defensive midfielder was one of the players who stood out in the team. In addition, the player is a regular fixture in Brazil’s under-17 national team.

Not surprisingly, in 2025, the midfielder played in the Under-17 World Cup wearing the Brazil national team shirt and took the field in 13 matches. Finally, this season, Zé Lucas has made 23 appearances for Sport, with no goals or assists.

What are Flamengo’s transfer priorities?

Flamengo is in talks with three players for the upcoming transfer window. The name of Thiago Almada, Atlético de Madrid’s (ESP) attacking midfielder, is the only one that has been leaked, while Mengão is also close to signing a center-forward and a winger.

In other words, even though he is not on the priority list, the signing of a defensive midfielder is viewed positively by Flamengo’s board. The initial idea is for Zé Lucas to join Fla’s under-20 team and, if he performs well, move up to the senior squad.

What is Flamengo’s next match?

Meanwhile, Flamengo remains focused on its next commitment of the season. This Wednesday (22), Leonardo Jardim’s team faces Chapecoense at Arena Condá, in Santa Catarina, at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time), in the 19th round of the Brasileirão.

As usual, Coluna do Fla brings all the details about Flamengo in the 2026 season. So, stay tuned to the website, social media, and YouTube. However, Globo (subscription channel) and Premiere (pay-per-view) will broadcast the match.

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