Flamengo pushes Luiz Henrique deal as River Plate sees key players depart
Flamengo has moved into an advanced stage of negotiations to sign striker Luiz Henrique from Zenit, offering a €30 million fixed fee plus €5 million in bonuses. If completed, the player will earn the highest salary in the club’s roster and become the second‑most expensive signing in its history. At the same time, River Plate’s transfer activity has intensified: midfielder Maxi Salas left the Argentine side for Independiente Rivadavia on a one‑year loan with an option to buy, and the club is also pursuing Boca Juniors defender Juan Barinaga. River’s other high‑profile player, midfielder Thiago Almada, has indicated a preference for returning to River rather than joining Flamengo, prompting Flamengo’s director José Boto to publicly criticize the decision and confirm that the Brazilian club no longer prioritises Almada. Additionally, Paraguayan midfielder Matías Galarza Fonda has attracted interest from an Italian club, reportedly Juventus, after his strong World Cup showing. These moves reflect a broader trend of South American clubs engaging in high‑value transfers, with Flamengo among several Brazilian teams breaking the €20 million barrier in recent deals.
Entities: Flamengo · José Boto · Juventus · Lorran · Luiz Henrique · Matías Galarza Fonda · Maxi Salas · Regis Marques · River Plate · Talleres · Thiago Almada
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Matías Galarza Fonda is being pursued by Juventus after a strong World Cup performance. (Matías Galarza Fonda / Juventus)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Flamengo is in advanced talks to sell Lorran to Granada, with the deal format still under discussion. (Flamengo)
- [● 3 SOURCES] José Boto said he did not travel to Argentina to convince Thiago Almada. (José Boto, Flamengo director of football)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Flamengo offered more than €20 million for Thiago Almada. (Flamengo)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Giuliano Galoppo was ordered by the TAS to pay $530,000 and 4,387,000 Argentine pesos to his former agent and is barred from playing until the debt is settled. (TAS ruling)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Flamengo is negotiating the transfer of Luiz Henrique from Zenit for €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses. (Flamengo)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] David Romero agreed to a five‑year contract with Parma for a fee reported above €7.5 million. (David Romero / Parma)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Maxi Salas signed a one‑year loan with Independiente Rivadavia with an option to buy. (Maxi Salas / Independiente Rivadavia)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Flamengo's financial department is seeking to balance its accounts through player sales such as Lorran. (supported)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Flamengo is negotiating the sale of Lorran to Granada, with the format (loan or permanent) still under discussion. (supported)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Flamengo is close to signing Luiz Henrique from Zenit with a contract offering €30 million fixed salary plus €5 million bonuses, making him the highest‑paid player at the club. (supported)
- [● 2 SOURCES] José Boto publicly stated he did not travel to Argentina to convince Almada. (supported)