Paquetá near Flamengo move, could break transfer record, Vasco top 3 | OneFootball

Lucas Paquetá is getting closer to returning to Flamengo, and the negotiation could make history in Brazilian football. The red-black club has reached a financial agreement with West Ham for an amount that, if confirmed under the current terms, will make the midfielder the most expensive signing ever made by a club in Brazil, considering values adjusted for inflation.

The potential deal will place Flamengo at the top of a historical ranking that still includes Corinthians and Vasco among the three biggest investments in history. The cross-maltese club appears in this ranking thanks to the signing of Edmundo in 1999, a move that marked an era and symbolized Vasco's financial and sporting power at the end of the 1990s.

Paquetá could become the most expensive signing in the history of Brazilian football

Flamengo and West Ham have advanced in negotiations for Lucas Paquetá after reaching an agreement on a fixed amount of 41.25 million euros, equivalent to R$ 255.9 million, without the inclusion of performance bonuses. Currently, the discussion revolves around the payment method, as the English club wants to receive the amount within 18 months, while Flamengo proposes a longer installment period.

The player's release gained momentum after Paquetá's firm stance, indicating he does not want to continue playing for West Ham, along with the English club's winning streak in the Premier League without the midfielder on the field. This scenario paved the way for the parties to seek a middle ground, with optimism for a definitive agreement in the coming days.

If the negotiation is concluded, the impact will be immediate in the national market. Flamengo would establish a new level of investment in Brazilian football, consolidating a recent trend of unprecedented value signings and reinforcing its position as the country's main financial powerhouse.

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Lucas Paquetá in action for West Ham — Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The three most expensive signings in the history of Brazilian football

With values adjusted for inflation, the historical ranking of the biggest signings in Brazilian football would be as follows:

Lucas Paquetá → FlamengoR$ 255.7 million (adjusted value)

Carlos Tevez → Corinthians (2005)R$ 60 million at the timeR$ 216.5 million adjusted for inflation

Edmundo → Vasco (1999)R$ 25 million at the timeR$ 199 million adjusted for inflation

The potential arrival of Paquetá would make Flamengo surpass Corinthians and Vasco, taking the top spot in the ranking.

Edmundo's signing keeps Vasco among the biggest investments in history

Even with the recent escalation of values in football, Vasco remains among the biggest investments ever made in Brazil. In 1999, the club signed Edmundo for about US$ 15 million, approximately R$ 25 million at the time, a value that today equals nearly R$ 200 million adjusted for inflation.

The signing occurred during Eurico Miranda's management and was made possible by a financial partnership with Nation’s Bank. At that time, it was the largest purchase ever made by a Brazilian club, reinforcing Vasco's prominence on the national and continental stage.

The impact was immediate on the field. Edmundo decided classics, scored important goals, and finished the 1999 Brazilian Championship as Vasco's top scorer, with 29 goals in 27 matches. The striker's return consolidated his idol status and showed that the historical investment had a sporting return to match.

Decades later, even with inflation and market changes, Vasco remains among the three clubs responsible for the biggest signings in the history of Brazilian football, a testament to the weight and relevance the club once held on the national scene.

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(Photo: Reproduction)

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