Flamengo: Marcos Antônio eyes move, São Paulo rocked by crisis | OneFootball

The São Paulo fan never has a day of peace. The saying that has become a mantra for the tricolors in recent years has never been more relevant. And now, to make matters worse, there's more information that complicates things further on the Morumbi side.

Flamengo decided to put its support machine on the field, and since Thursday afternoon (8), reporters and influencers of the Rio team have been dropping the bomb: Marcos Antônio has signaled positively for a transfer to Gávea.

The news hit like a bomb on the Tricolor side, as the report found out. And it kind of buried the attempt to reassure the fans about the stay of last year's most important outfield player. As part of the strategy to calm the São Paulo fans about the 'engine' staying, it was even leaked that he would wear the number 8 shirt this year, now vacant with Oscar's retirement.

But would it be correct to say he would wear it?

Well, it's hard to say. AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR found out from São Paulo football sources that the information from the Flamengo side is accurate. And so is São Paulo's. How to explain? Simple: Marcos Antônio does not oppose a move to Rio de Janeiro (SP). But he also doesn't want any trouble with the Morumbi club. If he stays, he stays, without resentment or frustration.

It's another chapter of the latest soap opera on display in São Paulo. And it has a direct relation to the club's negotiation to sign Allan. Quietly, it's said around Barra Funda that the Flamengo side set the trap. And the signs are more than clear.

After Flamengo's football manager, José Boto, returned from Europe and signaled positively to negotiate Allan's loan to the Tricolor, the Rio club changed its tone after the proposal was brought to their board. And, as speculated since December, the attempt is to get Marcos Antônio in the negotiations.

The report found that Boto gave the news to São Paulo manager Rui Costa on Thursday morning, justifying that it was a decision by his board. And that, for the midfielder, he would agree to more than just loan Allan. He would also give a sum to the Tricolor for the deal. A kindness from the wealthy Rio team to the struggling São Paulo team.

As if misfortune wasn't enough. Costa, who denied Flamengo's first attempt, still ended up leaking to them that things are not going well on the Morumbi side due to the impeachment vote of president Julio Casares, which will happen next week. To the Rio journalists, the information that all negotiations in São Paulo are stalled until then. The Tricolor, of course, denies it.

Whether it's a Flamengo bluff or not, time will tell. The fact is that the Rio team put their machine to work. They want Marcos Antônio and spared no effort. As the signs are clear this season, see their negotiation to get Kaio Jorge from Cruzeiro.

Rumors circulated on Thursday night pointing out that the midfielder's agent was at the training center. Which could be another indication. Even if São Paulo enforces its right to purchase the player from the Italians at Lazio, who guarantees there's money to give Marcos Antônio a salary increase?

The midfielder is, today, without false modesty, the main piece in coach Hernán Crespo's scheme and considered the team's pillar for 2026. In other words, immediately, São Paulo's official stance is that there is no interest in giving him up. At the turn of the year, the information came that the Morumbi club would act and anticipate payment to Lazio. But time passed, and nothing was done. The problem? Money, obviously.

The player landed at Morumbi in July 2024, loaned for a season by the Italians with a purchase clause set if game targets were met.

Well, in July this year, after intense negotiation, since the Tricolor club was constantly struggling with the known lack of money, São Paulo managed with Lazio to extend the loan for another year. And the purchase, previously linked to performance, became mandatory.

Now, São Paulo has committed to disbursing 4.2 million euros (about R$ 27.5 million) to have Marcos Antônio permanently. The agreement provides for payment divided into three annual installments, with the first due in June 2026.

Only with this, the Tricolor claims to secure itself against 'intruders' who want to intervene and take the midfielder from Morumbi. Of course, if the 'feared' Flamengo really wants the player, the negotiation would be quite complex and would have to involve the Italians, as well as the two Brazilian clubs.

The plan is relatively simple: split the first installment in two and make the payment in January. Have the guarantee that the purchase is definitively settled. And, with Lazio's permission, sign a definitive contract with the midfielder.

If Marcos Antônio has changed his mind and now accepts playing for Flamengo, it's a turnaround, since before arriving at São Paulo, he refused the Rio team's approach.

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