Southampton can now be added to the growing list of Premier League clubs who tried and failed to sign one of the biggest talents in South America.
West Ham United had a £14 million offer rejected in the summer of 2023.
That was confirmed by the then-Corinthians president Duilio Monteiro Alves, The Hammers failing to meet his demands for star striker Yuri Alberto.
Then, it was Wolves’ turn.
Wolverhampton Wanderers attempted to bring Alberto to Molineux on a loan-to-buy deal in the January market without success.
And, in the summer just gone, Southampton became the third Premier League club in as many windows to hit a brick wall in pursuit of the Brazil international number nine.
Southampton’s £17m Yuri Alberto deal was rejected
HITC can confirm that there are two big reasons why a proposed switch to St Mary’s failed to materialise.
There were the finances involved in the deal. Alberto would command big wages in addition to a transfer fee in excess of The Saints’ £17 million offer, per Lance.
Plus, with Southampton looking to bring in a goalkeeper (Aaron Ramsdale) and another wide forward (Maxwel Cornet) there was simply not enough space in Russell Martin’s squad for all the players they had initially hoped to sign.
Alberto, then, is stuck for the time being.
Stuck at a Corinthians side facing relegation with just 25 points from 26 games, despite boasting one of the most talented – if under-serviced – centre-forwards in the country.
Alberto’s agent, Andre Cury, has now opened up on why his 23-year-old client remains at the Neo Quimica Arena. And he explains that the biggest factor is that Corinthians simply didn’t want to sell, despite interest not only from the Premier League but from La Liga and Serie A as well.
“There is a player at Corinthians who (other clubs) made a huge offer for,” Cury tells Benja Me Mucho on YouTube. There have been several (offers) for him, and the club refused to accept any of them.
“It was Yuri Alberto. The club refuses to sell.
There were offers from the Premier League, more than three,” the agent adds, albeit without mentioning West Ham, Wolves and Southampton by name.
“There were (offers) from Real Betis, from Spain. An Italian club, too.
“They have the right not to sell. They have the right, but the club needs to be responsible for paying off its debts.”
Russell Martin’s Saints seriously lack firepower
Alberto has scored 17 goals in 42 games this season, albeit he has found opportunities hard to come by in Brazil’s top flight with most of his efforts coming in the cups.
Formerly of Santos and Internacional – he was linked with Arsenal during a prolific spell at the latter – Alberto’s only stint in European football so far came via a 15-game stretch in Russia with Zenit St Petersburg.
He would quickly escape back to Brazil following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Yuri is a very focused player,” adds Cury, insisting that the striker will not turn his back on the Corinthians cause despite being denied a move again. “He works hard. He has always respected Corinthians a lot.
“It is the club’s decision (not to sell). We have to accept it. All the offers that have come for him are very good (but) Yuri is very happy at Corinthians.
“We do our job. We put (the offers) on the table, and the club decides.”
Any frustration Southampton may feel at missing out on Yuri Alberto will be enhanced, meanwhile, by a tally of just one goal in four Premier League games.
Adam Armstrong is yet to silence his doubters, while Cameron Archer missed a penalty in last week’s 3-0 defeat by Manchester United.
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