Sport's drastic move over player in talks with Flamengo | OneFootball

Defensive midfielder Zé Lucas, who also plays for Brazil’s youth national team, has long been a Flamengo target

Flamengo have never hidden their desire to sign Sport midfielder Zé Lucas. This Thursday (16), a new development promises to shake up the future of the 18-year-old talent from Pernambuco. The youngster is not expected to play for the Recife club anymore.

According to GE/Pernambuco, Zé Lucas has been left out of the Sport squad, which is competing in Brazil’s Série B. The outlet also reports that Flamengo are currently in talks with the midfielder. Besides the Rubro-Negro club, European teams are also dreaming of signing the prospect.

Flamengo’s idea is to bring Zé Lucas straight into the senior squad. Recently, the club has been taking youngsters from first teams and placing them in the under-20s. For example, Josmar was a starter for Avaí, but now plays in Flamengo’s youth setup. Pedro Henrique, a key figure in Paysandu’s midfield, is also part of the club’s youth-team plans (the player ended up being loaned back to the Pará side until the end of the year).

However, the plan for Zé Lucas is different. Flamengo want the youngster to compete for a spot with Erick Pulgar, Evertton Araújo, Jorginho, De La Cruz and company. In short, the youngster is under contract with the Pernambuco club until April 2028, and has a release clause of 50 million euros (approximately R$ 292 million at the current exchange rate).

SO, WHAT DID SPORT’S OFFICIAL STATEMENT SAY?

“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 Brazilian Série B matches.

This measure was adopted due to ongoing negotiations involving a possible transfer of the player, with the aim of protecting all parties during this process.

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

IN SHORT, WHO IS ZÉ LUCAS?

A product of Sport’s academy, Zé Lucas has been an undisputed starter since last year, when the team played in Brazil’s Série A. This year, with Série B, the Pernambuco State Championship, the Copa do Brasil and the Copa do Nordeste, the youngster has made 23 appearances, with no goals or assists. In 2025, the midfielder played in the FIFA U-17 World Cup wearing the Brazil national team shirt.

AFTER ALL, WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— Zé Lucas has been linked with overseas clubs for a few years now. He is seen as Sport’s ‘financial lifeline,’ as the club is going through a serious cash crisis. He is a great bet, a player with a lot of personality, even at such a young age. He would be a player for Flamengo’s future — said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist at Coluna do Fla.

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