Matheus Franca has been filmed saying his goodbyes to Flamengo as the Brazilian forward closes in on an initial £17 million move to Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
Speaking on Sky Sports on Thursday, South American expert Tim Vickery was at pains to point out that 19-year-old Matheus Franca is not a like-for-like ‘Wilfried Zaha replacement’.
For a start, he is an ‘attacking midfielder’ rather than a winger. What’s more, at 11 years Zaha’s junior, it would be a little unfair to expect a teenager in his first spell this side of the Atlantic to immediately take on a talismanic role following the departure of a player some have labelled Crystal Palace’s greatest ever.
Nonetheless, the size of Franca’s price-tag, comparisons with Vinicius Jr, and previous interest from Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester City means that the Flamengo whizzkid arrives at Selhurst Park amid lofty expectations.
Crystal Palace close in on Flamengo’s Matheus Franca
Palace will pay an initial £17 million, rising to £26 million. The possible inclusion of a ‘Ballon D’Or clause’ in his contract, per The Guardian, speaks volumes about how highly Franca is rated back home in Brazil.
As things stand, Franca has still not been confirmed as a Crystal Palace player. That should soon change, however; the Rio-born schemer saying his goodbyes to a Flamengo side who gave us Vinicius as well as Lucas Paqueta, Gerson and Joao Gomes.
“Thank you for taking the time to be here with me today. I love you all, from the heart,” an emotional Franca says, in quotes reported by Coluna do Fla.
“This moment is very difficult. I know it’s a farewell. But (I will) always be a little bit in everyone’s hearts and everyone a little bit in my heart.”
‘He is very, very raw’
According to The Athletic, Crystal Palace’s sporting director Dougie Freedman made the 6,000 mile trip to Rio to watch Franca in action.
But with speculation surrounding the futures of Ebere Eze and Michael Olise – and with Zaha already at Galatasaray – it remains to be seen if Palace will have the opportunity to ease in Franca gently, or whether he will be thrown in at the deep end.
“He’s an attacking midfielder who is strong on the ball. There is talent there and real potential,” Vickery says. “But at the moment, compared to when Vinicius and Paqueta when they moved, he’s done less.
“Most of the games when he has played have been when they put out second-string sides. Or a few minutes off the bench.
“He’s very, very raw. He’s the kind of player at this moment who will do something absolutely brilliant. And then lose the ball the next 10 times he gets it.
“This is not a ready-made Wilf Zaha replacement. This is a talent that Palace are going to have to develop with a little patience.”
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