Newcastle United missed out on Matheus Franca during the January transfer window with Flamengo under no pressure to cash in on the Brazilian wonderkid following Joao Gomes’ £15 million move to Wolves, according to Globo Esporte.
In the last five years, the 2022 Copa Libertadores winners have raked in over £130 million via the sales of their most exciting talent; Vinicius Jr, Lucas Paqueta, Lazaro, Pablo Mari, Reinier, Gerson, Lazaro and now Wolverhampton Wanderers’ new midfield ‘Pitbull’ among them.
Joao Gomes, one of South America’s best young defensive enforcers, finally secured his dream move to the Premier League in the final week of the window; opting for Wolves despite the money on offer across the Channel at Lyon.
And, having added a cool £15 million to their coffers, Flamengo were under no pressure whatsoever to let another much-coveted academy graduate leave for Europe.
Wolves sign Joao Gomes as Newcastle miss out on Matheus Franca
Matheus Franca, Globo Esporte say, became an ‘obsession’ for Newcastle United in January. The Magpies offered £14 million and then £17 million. Flamengo, however, refused to budge on their £22 million asking price. Nor did they need to. Newcastle have Wolves to thank for that.
“We do not put Matheus Franca up for sale. He is not for sale,” said bullish Marcos Braz, Flamengo’s Vice President. “We are not interested negotiating for Matheus Franca at this moment.”
Labelled the second coming of Real Madrid’s Champions League-winning superstar Vinicius Jr by some; Flamengo also had the added advantage in knowing that Franca remains committed to a side who have claimed the Copa Libertadores title in two of the last three years.
“I’m focused on Flamengo,” Franca insisted. “My season will be (spent) here.”
18-year-old Franca was in and out of the Flamengo team in 2022. He is likely to play a far bigger role next time around, however. And you can guarantee that Newcastle will be keeping very close tabs on his ongoing progress.
Gomes, meanwhile, will hope to make his Wolves debut against troubled Liverpool on Saturday at Molineux.
“He’s got energy and is physical,” explains Wolves’ sporting director Matt Hobbs. “He can play in a six or an eight, and has the Brazilian technicality. For us, it’s a player who has all the attributes to make it in the Premier League.
“We have to allow him time to settle, adapt and get his match fitness and speed up. For us, this is a long-term signing. Someone we’re really excited about for the next few years. (Gomes) has all the ability to be a Brazilian national team player.”
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