Bad news for Barcelona, Liverpool or any other club who hope to sign the Brazilian wonderkid Rodrygo for less than his release clause.
According to Brazilian outlet UOL, Santos have met the player’s representatives and told them he’s not leaving for less than €50m.
The club reportedly believe the 17-year-old is better than Vinicius Junior, who was recently sold from Flamengo to Real Madrid for €45m, so he should be worth more.
It’s no secret that Rodrygo’s agents have been listening to offers from European clubs, and now they have an authorisation from Santos to negotiate, as long as the bids match the release clause.
Even though Chelsea and Manchester United have been recently linked to the player by the Spanish press, the only Premier League side named by UOL is Liverpool.
The website claims the Reds were interested in the player when he was 15, and this chase was the main reason Santos worked hard on offering him his first professional contract and a career plan.
Rodrygo was involved in a controversy in South America this week, as a Uruguayan player admitted to injuring him on purpose during the Libertadores match between Nacional and Santos.
Nacional right-back Fucile has spoken to Radio Sport890 after the game and said: “I was nutmegged three times, for the first time in history I’m nutmegged three times, I counted them because it was the first time that happens to me. You have to applaud, there is no player who nutmegged me three times.
“He’s going to put the video on and he’ll watch it every day, there was no other way to get him off the pitch, I managed to take him out off pitch and that’s where the game calmed down.”
Rodrygo twisted his ankle in the play, and couldn’t even walk to the bench. However, the latest exams have shown he’s fine, and should play against Grêmio for the Brazilian league this weekend.
In response to Fucile’s statements, Santos released an ‘official manifesto’ criticising the violence and saying these actions will never intimidate the club’s youngsters.
