Injury record concerns scuppers Mikey Johnston’s Brazilian adventure | OneFootball

In a transfer story that moved from fantasy to farce in a matter of just days, Mikey Johnston’s surprise move from West Bromwich Albion to Brazilian giants Flamengo is officially off—and the truth behind why it collapsed now seems pretty foggy.

Mikey Johnston of West Bromwich Albion during the Sky Bet Championship match between West Bromwich Albion and Cardiff City at The Hawthorns on February 13, 2024 (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Initially, the narrative that emerged painted a picture of Flamengo supporters rising up in opposition to the signing of the former Celtic winger, questioning why a relatively unheralded player from the English Championship was being lined up for a £5 million move to the iconic Rio de Janeiro club.

Social media backlash was apparently rife, with some fans suggesting their club should be aiming higher than a player who spent last season in England’s second tier.

But now, fresh reporting from The Herald offers a different angle—one that points not to popular pressure, but presidential power as the real reason behind the breakdown of the deal.

Mikey Johnston celebrates. Photograph by Vagelis Georgariou

According to the report, Flamengo manager Filipe Luís had personally reached out to Johnston via video call to outline his role in the team and welcome him aboard. The plan was clearly well-developed and genuine. Johnston, by all accounts, had agreed personal terms and was excited by the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swap the Midlands for the Maracanã.

However, just as the paperwork was nearing the finish line, club president Luiz Eduardo Baptista stepped in and personally vetoed the move. But not it seems due to fan uproar, instead injury history red flags.

Baptista reportedly pulled the plug after reviewing Johnston’s injury history and deciding the risk was too high for such a significant financial outlay.

Of course there is merit in reaching that conclusion, after all it’s hard to ignore Johnston’s well-documented fitness issues during his time at Celtic. He never quite managed to put a sustained run of form together. Injury after injury stalled his momentum, often just when it looked like he was ready to establish himself as a first-team regular.

22nd March 2023 Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland: International Football Friendly, Republic of Ireland versus Latvia Mikey Johnston of Ireland thanking the fans after the full time whistle ActionPlus Peter Fitzpatrick

That said, it’s also clear the lad has been working hard to rebuild his career. His initial loan spell, and then his permanent shift to West Brom, have been about restoring rhythm and minutes, and a move to Flamengo felt like the kind of left-field adventure that would have been worth keeping an eye on and arguably a just reward for Mikey’s endeavours in getting his career back on track.

From a Celtic perspective, it would’ve been fascinating to watch one of our own ply his trade in Brazil’s Série A—surely a first for a Hoops academy graduate. For Johnston himself, it would’ve been a seismic moment – from Lennoxtown to the land of Zico, Ronaldinho, and samba football, that would have been just class.

Instead, the dream’s over before it even got started. Whether it was naysaying fans, or a cautious club president that ultimately stopped this move, who knows, but we’ve been robbed of what could have been one of the most curious and captivating moves of the summer.

Mikey is apparently now back in Austria with West Brom at their training camp, and probably like the rest of us wondering what on earth just happened!

Niall J