Man City owners ‘fail in £3.5m bid’ to lure Brazil U20 star Vinicius Souza from Flamengo as reigning Serie A champions aim to hold on to starlet
- City Football Group have been strongly linked with midfielder Vinicius Souza
- Sources in Brazil have said Flamengo have rejected a £3.5m bid for the prodigy
- Souza made his debut in October and has represented his country at youth level
- The 20-year-old could be bound for the Premier League as City look to the future
Manchester City’s owners have made a bid of around £3.5 million for Flamengo prodigy Vinicius Souza, according to reports in Brazil claiming that a move for the promising defensive midfielder was vetoed by manager Jorge Jesus.
City Football Group, the Abu Dhabi-owned holding company behind City’s vast wealth, seized upon their good relationship with the Brazil under-20 starlet to table an offer for the promising youngster, Hora has claimed.
Souza has been with Flamengo since he was 13 and enjoyed a triumphant start to life as a first team player as he helped his club breeze to Serie A glory last season.
Brazilian prodigy Vinicius Souza has already won trophies with current champions Flamengo
Manchester City’s owners are thought to be keen on the physically imposing midfielder (right)
Jesus, who spent six years at Benfica, is believed to see the prospect as an important part of Flamengo’s attempt to defend to defend their title when the season begins in Brazil.
The veteran coach has described Souza’s physicality, vision and ability to mark players as his key strengths, likening the young powerhouse to Manchester United star Nemanja Matic.
Flamengo are believed to be keen to keep hold of Souza as they bid to retain their Serie A title
Speaking at the end of his first senior season with the club, Souza said: ‘I made my biggest dreams come true. May 2020 surprise me even more.’
Flamengo have also won the Copa Libertadores, Supercopa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana since Souza joined the first team squad.
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