Flamengo striker Rodrigo Muniz is training alone as he prepares to complete a £7 million move to Championship side Fulham, as reported by Coluna do Fla.
Should the 20-year-old striker prove a big hit at Craven Cottage, the west London club will have Marco Silva to thank.
The Fulham manager sees shades of Richarlison in young Muniz and, in the face of serious competition from across the footballing globe, Silva went that extra mile to lure one of Brazil’s most coveted talents to the English capital.
The Portuguese tactician called Muniz directly last month in an attempt to lure the striker to SW6.
And it seems that personal touch has had the desired effect, with Fulham set to fight off the likes of Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Genk, Al-Nassr and Championship rivals Middlesbrough.
Fulham chief executive Alistair Mackintosh has held talks with his Flamengo counterparts too. Muniz is now training alone away from the rest of the squad as he prepares to board a flight to London.
Rodrigo Muniz opted for Fulham ahead of Middlesbrough (and Inter Milan)
“I can’t believe he’s turned us down,” Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock told the Hartlepool Mail, confirming Fulham’s interest in the highly rated Muniz.
“I think it was Inter Milan, Fulham or Middlesbrough.
“(Muniz) is just a different type of player. He’s got energy, pace. It’s still a bit of a gamble but Steve (Gibson, Boro’s owner) wanted to gamble with that age group and we’re disappointed as a lot of work went into it.
“It has left us a bit short. We’ve missed out on one or two players because we’ve waited so it has been a difficult period but I’m sure we’ll come up with something.”
Fulham and Middlesbrough met on the opening weekend of the Championship season on Sunday. Marc Bola’s crisp strike earned the visitors a draw after a brilliant debut goal from Fulham’s new £12 million man Harry Wilson.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
