RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesBrazilian giant wants Luiz Henrique back, but there are snags
Botafogo has begun talks with Zenit in an attempt to bring back Luiz Henrique, the hero of the 2024 Libertadores title.
However, the complexity of the deal and its major financial impact have generated strong distrust behind the scenes within the board.
The information was published by the O Globo newspaper website.
The negotiation
Last week, Botafogo opened talks with Zenit, suggesting a swap: the return of forward Luiz Henrique in a deal involving midfielder Danilo, a long-time target of the Russian club.
The situation on the players’ side presents contrasts
Luiz Henrique: In contact with the board of the social club, the forward gave a positive indication about returning to Brazil. However, the contract details were not discussed in depth, and his camp points out that there are other clubs interested in the player.
Danilo: The midfielder is the first major obstacle. He has already made it clear that he does not want to move to Russian football, prioritizing more prestigious leagues, such as the English one. In addition, the salary demands from his camp are above what Zenit is offering.
The internal conflict within the SAF
While the social club dreams of the idol’s return, the top brass of Botafogo’s Football Corporation (SAF) views the move with extreme caution. The main concern is purely financial.
Botafogo is going through a judicial reorganization process and is seeking to restructure itself administratively and financially. Internally, there is an assessment that the high costs involved in bringing Luiz Henrique back (such as high wages and signing bonuses) could derail the reorganization plans.
The current SAF management has been working to project an image of responsibility to the market, focusing on low-cost signings and the payment of accumulated debts.
Far from the behind-the-scenes negotiations, Botafogo’s main squad was given a few days off after the recent 1-0 win over Cruzeiro at Mineirão.
The team has two weeks to prepare for its next match: the derby against Fluminense, scheduled for August 8 in the Brazilian Championship.
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
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