It’s been a few months since West Ham United’s interest in Flamengo star Gabigol went quiet, but we it’s now been brought back to life by the Brazilian media.
At the end of the last week, Marcos Braz, vice-president of the Rio de Janeiro side, gave a press conference and claimed the club had rejected an offer of €30m for the striker.
The official claimed this bid came from an English club, and according to him, they didn’t even sit down to negotiate the transfer, since the amount was far from enough.
It turns out that journalist Jorge Nicola chased after this story, and after speaking to Flamengo officials, now explains what really happened. He claims it was a bid for a loan until the summer of 2023, for which the club would pay €10m, plus a buying option worth €20m.
Back in January, the Hammers’ offer had been mentioned by Gabigol’s agent Junior Pedroso. Speaking to Globo Esporte, he said: “The other club that actually went about with a formalisation of a loan offer was West Ham. And then I didn’t even take that offer to Gabriel, I directed it to Flamengo, who turned it down,” he said.
“Flamengo doesn’t see a loan as a possibility, even paying a fortune, and we wouldn’t consider a loan at the moment either.”
On his video, Nicola wonders if European clubs will return this summer for Gabigol, who has 20 goals in 38 appearances this season.
