Flamengo not confident in Chelsea talks over ‘unlikely’ Kenedy transfer

Flamengo are the richest club in Brazil, generating R$668m (over €100m) in revenue last year, but while that’s a big number by South American standards, it’s not much by European ones. Even with a €22.5m windfall from the transfer of Gerson to Olympique Marseille last month, Brazil’s economy does not help Flamengo in the transfer market.

Those economic factors are a major stumbling block in their pursuit of Chelsea winger Kenedy, according to director Bruno Spindel.

“Kenedy is a very interesting athlete. Flamengo are holding talks [for his signing].

“[But] it is also very difficult. He is from Chelsea, he is an interesting player who had a great season. Now it is a very difficult negotiation, for an athlete who was bought by Chelsea at a high transfer fee.

“We would like to have him [at Flamengo] but, once again, due to our financial situation, Euro’s price, and everything else that happened, we see [his signature] as an unlikely situation.”

-Bruno Spindel; source: UOL

Flamengo were well aware of these difficulties before as well, especially if a European team were to show an interest in the 25-year-old, so Spindel might just be using that as a convenient excuse to calm the fans who are getting impatient with the club following the departure of Gerson.

Either way, with the new season just around the corner, Kenedy’s situation will have to be resolved sooner rather than later.