Brighton trigger bidding war for Flamengo’s rising star | OneFootball

Brighton have tabled a formal bid for Flamengo’s Wesley, with the English club reportedly offering €23 million (approximately 145 million reais) for the 21-year-old right-back. The bid underscores Wesley’s rising reputation after a string of strong performances, notably against Chelsea, and comes amid competition from both Manchester City and several top Italian clubs.

According to Flamengo’s sporting director José Boto, interest from Europe is robust. Speaking with Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport, Boto confirmed that Juventus and Roma have made inquiries but asserted, “We won’t sell for less than €30 million. I hear talk of €20 million, but that’s not enough. Wesley is ready for Europe. He’s a great talent.”

The opening proposal from Brighton falls short of Flamengo’s valuation, leaving a gap of €7 million (around 44 million reais) for negotiations to continue. Brighton’s push is further complicated by Manchester City monitoring the situation, heightening the competition for Wesley’s signature ahead of the summer transfer window.

Wesley himself appears fully focused on the present, despite mounting speculation over his future. Reflecting after Flamengo’s match against Chelsea, where he rebounded from a defensive mistake to finish the game strongly, the young full-back said, “I admit that when something appears on my phone, I check it straight away. But my focus is completely here at Flamengo; I have no reason to want to leave right now. My dream is to play in Europe, but right now my reality is Flamengo. Whatever happens is between my representatives and the club. My focus is Flamengo and will always be Flamengo.”

While Juventus and Roma continue to weigh options, it’s clear Flamengo are determined not to sell their burgeoning star without a premium offer. The club’s commitment to keeping key pieces is also evident in recent transfer rumors involving other players, such as Allan, whom Flamengo have made clear is not for sale despite reported interest.

There is currently no suggestion other European clubs have matched or exceeded Brighton’s bid. However, given Wesley’s age, performances, and market interest, Flamengo are in a strong negotiating position—especially with the Club World Cup on the horizon, and the player’s declared commitment to seeing out at least the immediate future in Rio.

Source: Lance

Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images