São Paulo set Marcos Antônio fee, record price puts Flamengo off | OneFootball

AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR revealed last week that after the impeachment of Julio Casares and the inauguration of Harry Massis Júnior as president, São Paulo decided to sit down with Flamengo to understand how much the Rio club is really willing to count on Marcos Antônio, a request from their coach, Filipe Luís.

Well, the Morumbi club listened to Flamengo’s offer in a virtual meeting. They were willing to give up midfielder Allan, a São Paulo target in the current transfer window, plus a sum of money. The amount was kept confidential, but the report found that it was close to 10 million euros (approximately R$ 63 million). They also promised São Paulo that they would retain a percentage of the rights to their number 8.

São Paulo rejected the offer. But, as AMT found out, executive Rui Costa promised that the talks were not over. He was asked by José Boto if an in-person meeting could be held this Wednesday (28th), taking advantage of Flamengo’s stay in São Paulo for the opening round of the Brazilian Championship between the clubs.

Well, the meeting took place yesterday afternoon. And São Paulo set the price at which they would agree to negotiate Marcos Antônio: 25 million euros (about R$ 155 million).

This is the highest amount ever requested by São Paulo in a negotiation. As revealed by the portal ‘UOL‘, it would break the transfer record of the Morumbi club, which belongs to the R$ 108 million raised with Lucas’s move to PSG in 2012.

In practice, the amount is even higher, since Costa still wants Allan’s release as part of the deal, arguing that he would need the reinforcement due to the gap that would open in the squad.

As expected, the reaction from the Rio side was the worst possible. Boto said that Flamengo does not intend to pay that much for Marcos Antônio. And he heard from his São Paulo counterpart that Marcos Antônio has indispensable status, just like Kaio Jorge at Cruzeiro, another target attempted by the red-and-black team this window.

Given the impasse, Flamengo’s negotiations to get the midfielder are temporarily suspended, even though their executive promised to take the matter for internal discussion with the board.

DRAWN-OUT NEGOTIATION (FOR THEM)

To get the player, Flamengo decided to put its support machine into action and, since Thursday afternoon (8th), the Rio club’s beat reporters and influencers have been dropping the bomb: Marcos Antônio gave a positive signal for a move to Gávea after a phone conversation with Filipe Luís.

The news hit like a bomb on the Tricolor side, according to the report. 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 ‘little engine’s’ permanence, it was even leaked that he will wear the number 8 shirt this year, now vacant after Oscar’s retirement.

But would he really wear it?

Well, hard to say. AVANTE MEU TRICOLOR found out from São Paulo football sources that the information from the Flamengo side is true. 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 trouble with the Morumbi club. If he stays, he stays, with no resentment or frustration.

It’s another chapter in the latest soap opera at São Paulo. And it’s directly related to the club’s negotiation to sign Allan. Behind the scenes, it’s said around Barra Funda that Flamengo set a 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 Tricolor, the Rio club changed its tone after the proposal was taken to their board. And, as had been 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 from his board. And that, for the midfielder, he would agree to more than just giving up Allan. He would also give a sum to Tricolor for the deal. A kindness from the rich Rio club to the struggling São Paulo team.

As if misfortune wasn’t enough. Costa, who rejected Flamengo’s first offer, also ended up leaking to them that things are not going well at Morumbi due to the impeachment vote of president Julio Casares, which will happen next week. To Rio journalists, the information was that all negotiations at São Paulo are on hold until then. Tricolor, of course, denies it.

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

Rumors circulated on Thursday night that the midfielder’s agent was at the training center. Which could be another indication. Even if São Paulo enforces its purchase right for the player from 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 pillar of the team for 2026. In other words, officially, São Paulo says there is no interest in letting him go. At the turn of the year, there was information that the Morumbi club would act and advance 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 and with a purchase clause set if match targets were met.

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

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

With this, Tricolor says it is protected against ‘intruders’ who want to swoop in and take the midfielder from Morumbi. Of course, if the ‘feared’ Flamengo really wants the player, the negotiation would be quite complex and would also have to involve the Italians, in addition to the two Brazilian clubs.

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

If Marcos Antônio has changed his mind and now accepts to play for Flamengo, it’s a turnaround, since before arriving at São Paulo, he had rejected an offer from the Rio club.

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