Liverpool and Nottingham Forest now have a €100m (£86.5m) clause to consider if their interest in Gabriel Menegon returns.
The Premier League clubs made enquiries for the Grêmio goalkeeper nearly a year ago. But a lot has happened with the youngster since then.
Menegon has signed a new contract, enhanced his release clause, made his senior debut and is now heading into the Brazil senior setup.
€100m clause offers Grêmio protection
RTI Esporte reports that Menegon’s contract includes a €100m (£86.5m) release clause for foreign clubs.
Of course that’s relevant to Liverpool and Nottingham Forest after their previous approaches for information.
The figure doesn’t mean Grêmio currently value the 17-year-old at €100m (£86.5m). It’s there to give the Brazilian club contractual protection.
Menegon’s new deal runs until September 2028, having been renewed after that Premier League attention arrived.
Neither Liverpool nor Forest made an official offer at the time. Their interest only reached the enquiry stage. Still, Grêmio clearly wanted themselves in a stronger position if clubs returned later.
Senior debut followed by Brazil call
Menegon’s situation on the pitch has moved on considerably as well. The 1.96m goalkeeper was promoted to Grêmio’s senior squad this season. He then made his professional debut against Corinthians on May 30.
That opportunity came in unusual circumstances. Backup goalkeeper Thiago Beltrame was sent off during the 3-1 defeat, meaning Menegon entered in the second half. Weverton was away with Brazil and his substitute Gabriel Grando was injured.
There’s been another significant step since then. Menegon has been called up to complete training with Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil squad during the next international break.
This isn’t a full senior call-up for matches. Goalkeeping coach Claudio Taffarel has previously brought young keepers into the group to help with training.
Even so, it puts Menegon in a very different place from when Liverpool and Nottingham Forest first came asking about him.
He was a 16-year-old academy prospect then. Now he’s made his senior debut, is training with the first team and is getting a look inside Brazil’s senior setup.
Should either English club come back, Grêmio have also made sure they’re much better protected this time.
