Flamengo threaten to steal Emerson Royal from Besiktas at the last minute | OneFootball

Flamengo have stepped up their pursuit of Emerson Royal, aiming to hijack Besiktas’ near-completed move for the Brazilian right-back, according to Lance and Fabrizio Romano. The Turkish side had reportedly reached a verbal agreement with Milan for a season-long loan with a €10 million purchase option, and Emerson was scheduled to undergo medical tests and travel to Istanbul within days.

However, Flamengo have now entered the negotiations, hoping to secure the 26-year-old as a direct replacement for Wesley, who is negotiating a move to Roma. Club sources cited by Lance state that finding a new right-back has become a priority for Flamengo, and Emerson’s name has long been on the club’s radar.

Besiktas, already short-staffed at right-back with only Jonas Svensson and Arda Berk Özüarap in their squad, are preparing to abandon their pursuit in the wake of Flamengo’s intervention. The club’s president is reportedly ready to step away if the Brazilian club’s offer is formalized, leaving Emerson to re-evaluate his options with Milan.

The full-back has had a well-travelled career so far, featuring for Atlético Mineiro, Barcelona, Real Betis, Tottenham, and most recently Milan. His progress last season was interrupted, having been sidelined since January with a calf injury.

Emerson’s admiration for Flamengo is no secret—speaking to Coluna do Fla back in 2022, when still at Tottenham, he revealed, “Who wouldn’t want to play for Flamengo? My dream is to play for Flamengo one day. It’s the only club in Brazil today that comes close to the level of Premier League teams.”

With negotiations ongoing and Emerson yet to appear for Milan this year due to injury, both player and club face decisive days ahead. For Flamengo, the pursuit has taken on extra urgency as Wesley edges closer to an exit, while Besiktas find their plans for shoring up the right flank abruptly derailed by the Brazilian club’s last-minute intervention.

(Source: Lance, via Fabrizio Romano)