Fluminense president Mario Bittencort has been speaking publicly about Liverpool’s recent pursuit of star midfielder Andre Trindade.
The Reds were heavily linked with a move for Andre during the summer transfer window. However, with Fluminense determined to keep him, the 22-year-old ended up staying put.
Now, in an interview with ESPN via Brazilian outlet Lance, Bittencort has admitted that Liverpool did call him about Andre.
“There is an agreement between us, with the player and representative, that he would stay until the end of the year and they comply fully and with the utmost tranquillity,” explained the executive.
“What they have done is the work as a representative of the athlete that is: all the polling that arrives they communicate to Fluminense.
“In the case of Liverpool, I go even further. Liverpool’s Chief Executive contacted me directly. And I replied to him, ‘My friend, I don’t sell players now and I don’t deliver now.’
“If you want to buy now to take in January we can start talking, or if you want to wait until December and we talk in December.”
It has always seemed to be the case that Andre would be on the market in the New Year.
With Flu into the semi-final of the Copa Libertadores and going well in the Brazilian Serie A, they obviously want to keep hold of one of their best players. That’s fair enough.
But it’s clear that having already become a full Brazil international, Andre is ready for the next step. It’s good that they’ve already publicly acknowledged that they won’t stand in his way.
From a Liverpool point of view, this summer contact also sounds like it was friendly and good natured.
Having already spoken with the president of the club, and supposedly persuaded Andre himself that his future lies on Merseyside, that should put the Reds at a big advantage in January.
It’s been reported that the Brazilian has a release clause of around £34m [Netflu]. However the suggestion all summer has been that a winter move would come in cheaper than that.
As far as Liverpool are concerned, that should be no-brainer. They’re preparing to lose Thiago Alcantara in a year’s time and Andre could be the ready-made replacement. Certainly legs to go in this one.
