Fluminense ace Andre Trindade has admitted that he turned down Premier League approaches from Fulham and Nottingham Forest during the summer transfer window, speaking to 3 na Area.
Ahead of Brazil’s first outing since the departure of long-serving manager Tite , interim coach Ramon Menezes seized the opportunity to spring the changes and give some well-deserved opportunities to a number of rising stars.
Barcelona-linked wonderkid Vitor Roque is in line for an international debut. As is Chelsea youngster Andrey Santos, teenager Mykael and Zenit St Petersburg centre-back Robert Renan.
21-year-old Andre Trindade, meanwhile, will be hoping to prove that he can be relied upon to provide cover for the vastly-experienced Casemiro; labelled the ‘best defensive midfielder’ in Brazil’s Serie A by his Fluminense coach Fernando Diniz.
Andre was named the league’s ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in 2021. He secured himself a place in the Team of the Season 12 months later, catching the eye of a number of Premier League clubs with his all-action performances.
Fulham and Nottingham Forest like Fluminense star Andre Trindade
Andre, speaking ahead of what could be his Brazil bow against Morocco this weekend, admitted that Fulham came calling in January. As did a Nottingham Forest side who eventually turned to another young Brazilian in former Palmeiras ace Danilo.
“The team that Danilo joined (Nottingham Forest wanted me). Fulham also probed. But I already had an agreement with the (Fluminense) president, largely because of Diniz who also wanted to keep the squad for this season,” Andre explains.
There were also personal factors behind Andre’s decision.
“I was living a moment when my wife was in the final stages of her pregnancy,” the youngster adds. “And I chose to stay here for this great reason.”
Only time will tell whether either Fulham or Forest renew their interest. Diniz, however, wants far more than the £17 million Fulham reportedly offered in the winter.
“Andre today must be worth 20 to 30 million euros. (He is the) best defensive midfielder in Brazilian football,” says the Fluminense boss.
“He’ll have an easy career when he migrates to Europe. He should play at one, two or three World Cups.”
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