Flamengo forward Pedro has put contract talks on hold to focus entirely on the final stretch of the Brasileirão, thefootball.com.br reported.
Flamengo holds the top spot in the league table with 76 points after 34 matches. Palmeiras sits in second place with 73 points. The league leaders hold a 23 to 21 advantage in total wins, which serves as the primary tiebreaker in the competition.
Pedro returned to peak form after a difficult spell at Gávea. He scored two goals in a 4-1 win over Vasco and added two more in a 3-1 victory against Grêmio. Those performances brought his season tally to 20 goals in the competition. Viveros of Athletico-PR leads the scoring charts with 21 goals.
Pedro signed with Flamengo in 2020 and became the club’s highest goalscorer of the 21st century. His current contract runs through the end of 2027. Management wants to secure a financial upgrade and extend that deal, but his representatives stated that negotiations will wait until the domestic campaign ends.
If no agreement is reached, Pedro can sign a pre-contract with another club in six months, meaning he could leave on a free transfer before his deal expires. The striker seeks improved wages and a percentage of his economic rights. He has not ruled out a future move back to European football.
Manager Leonardo Jardim has relied heavily on Pedro, who has recorded 30 goals and 10 assists across 55 appearances this season. Meanwhile, Flamengo secured early releases for three key players from the Uruguay national team during the recent FIFA international window.
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