January was the month when Brazil became aware of one of its youngest talents. Vinícius Junior, who’s currently playing in the country’s biggest youth tournament for Flamengo, impressed everyone with his skills.
As reported by Brazil’s UOL, the player was already being monitored by many European sides, with Barcelona, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United among them). But recent performances have seen the interest starting to move into something more concrete.
Flamengo knew it was coming, and that’s why vice-president Flávio Godinho gave an interview today to make the youngster’s situation clear: “We have no interest in negotiating the athlete”, he told UOL.
As revealed by former Flamengo president Kleber Leite and covered by the Independent on Monday, Manchester United tried to secure a priority clause, but failed to do so because they didn’t want to pay an amount up front.
According to UOL, the 16-year-old already has a €30m release clause, and Flamengo will consider to raise this amount in case he signs a new contract.
The teenager will soon be training with Flamengo’s first team. The club’s plans are to use him as much as they can on the pitch, even though a future sale is considered inevitable.
Manchester United have upped their scouting system since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, and further still under Jose Mourinho. The Old Trafford club are routinely linked with South American youngsters and rarely does anything come of it.
