West Ham bid rejected before Brazil breakthrough – Midfielder now tipped for record sale

West Ham have already had more than one chance to get ahead of the game with Matheus Martinelli. 

The Hammers were among the clubs making a formal move for the Fluminense midfielder in the last window. None of the approaches convinced the Brazilian club.

There was always a feeling at Fluminense that waiting could pay off. They believed Martinelli had a genuine chance of reaching the Brazil squad, and that doing so would naturally push his value higher.

Well, that part of the plan has now worked.

West Ham bid came before Brazil breakthrough

Globo Esporte report that Matheus Martinelli’s recent Brazil call-up has changed the way Fluminense look at his future value.

Carlo Ancelotti called the 24-year-old up for Brazil’s three friendlies after Chelsea’s João Pedro withdrew through injury. Martinelli is now training with the national team for the first time.

Every offer Fluminense received for him came before that happened, naturally. The Hammers were among those to formally approach the Brazilian club, but the new report says Nottingham Forest, Olympiacos, Besiktas and Al-Shabab were in the picture as well.

Nottingham Forest are a new name in the story. And Olympiacos are part of the same ownership group of course. So given how things have played out, you’d imagine they’ve already filled that spot with Gustavo Puerta or even Gustavo Sá, as both joined Olympiacos and are expected to move to Forest next year.

The highest offer Fluminense received from any of the interested clubs was €14m (£12.1m). Globo don’t identify which side made that particular bid, so it can’t be pinned on West Ham. Every proposal was rejected.

Fluminense believe waiting has paid off

Matheus Martinelli remains “non-negotiable” for the time being. Fluminense consider him one of the pillars of the team and don’t want to lose him during a decisive part of their season.

That doesn’t mean the door will stay closed forever. The club know more offers are likely to arrive in the next transfer window.

The difference now is that they expect his new status as a Brazil international to bring bids much closer to the sort of money they would actually consider.

There’s even a belief that Martinelli’s eventual departure could become the biggest sale in Fluminense’s history… And that’s quite a jump from where this story started.

West Ham were trying to buy him before he had been called up by Brazil. They then returned with another formal attempt, only to see Fluminense reject the approaches coming their way.

The Brazilian club chose to wait for the international recognition they believed was coming. Ancelotti has now provided it.

If West Ham return again, they’ll be negotiating for a player whose standing has changed massively since their first move.