PHOTO: LUCAS MERÇON / FLUMINENSE FC
The board of Fluminense tried until the end. There were conversations, pressure and a clear desire to repatriate Jhon Arias. However, the Colombian’s return to the club did not materialize.
Fluminense presented an inferior proposal to Palmeiras and sought to convince the player to intervene with Wolverhampton. The strategy, however, had no effect. Given the financial power of the São Paulo club and the value involved in the negotiation, the English team opted for the sale to Verdão, allowing Arias to return to Brazil by 2029.
Could Arias have done anything differently?
The doubt began to circulate among tricolor fans. Arias had promised, in his farewell, to prioritize Fluminense in a possible return to the country. But in practice, the scenario was quite complex.
According to Diogo Dantas, to match Palmeiras’ proposal, Arias would have to give up practically all of his salary during the contract. The difference between the offers was around 5 million euros, something close to R$30 million.
The case ended up being compared to Lucas Paquetá’s return to Flemish. At the time, the midfielder gave up part of her salary to make the deal viable. The difference is that, in the case of Paquetá, the financial sacrifice was small in relation to the total negotiation.
Heavy and heavy competition in the decision
Another decisive factor was competition. While Paquetá had no official proposals superior to Flamengo, Arias aroused real interest from other clubs.
In addition to Fluminense, which reached 20 million euros, Flamengo offered 22 million. Palmeiras put 25 million euros on the table. All formal proposals.
Given this, Wolverhampton’s interest prevailed. The English club, relegated and in financial difficulties, needs to save money. Arias represented a strategic sale, with little sporting impact and good economic return.
Sports project and focus on the World Cup
The project presented by Palmeiras also weighed. The club offered protagonism, a higher salary than Arias received in England and a competitive environment. Something that the player did not find in English football, where he played a little and failed to stand out.
With the World Cup on the horizon, the Colombian understood that he needed to get back to his good level quickly. For him, the choice became clear.
Fluminense will still have a financial return
Even outside the dispute, Fluminense does not leave empty-handed. The club will receive around R$5 million relating to the percentage of Wolverhampton’s profit from the purchase from Tricolor and the sale to Palmeiras.
