City Football Group have had an opening £8.7m bid for young Flamengo defender Joao Victor turned down, with the Brazilian club standing firm on their valuation of the 19-year-old.
It’s important to be clear on the structure of the move: this isn’t a direct Man City first-team pursuit. CFG’s plan is to place Joao Victor at one of its European satellite clubs first — Girona, Troyes, Palermo and Lommel have all been mentioned — to continue his football education away from the spotlight.
It’s a pathway CFG has used before with promising young defenders, and one that, if he progresses as hoped, would ultimately be aimed at building him toward a move to Manchester City itself further down the line, rather than an out-and-out development-and-resale project.
Flamengo have no intention of rushing a sale, believing the centre-back’s value will keep rising the longer he stays in Rio. He impressed during Flamengo’s pre-season tour of Portugal, starting all three friendlies alongside Vitao while first-choice pairing Léo Pereira and Danilo were away on World Cup duty with Brazil, and has since been handed a senior squad number.
This isn’t CFG’s first attempt, either. Ajax had an €8m bid rejected for the same player at the end of 2025, and Flamengo’s stance hasn’t shifted since — the club consider him one of their most promising academy graduates, with a contract running to December 2029 and a release clause set at €70m.
An improved offer from CFG is expected in the coming days, though Flamengo’s position suggests any deal is likely to take some time to materialise, if it happens at all this window.
This piece draws on reporting from GE and Lance! and has not been independently confirmed by City Football Group or Flamengo.
