Fluminense president Mário Bittencourt made a shocking revelation – he tried to sign Neymar for just the Club World Cup. But that’s not all, he also reached out to Cristiano Ronaldo’s former agent, Jorge Mendes, to gauge the Portuguese star’s interest in playing for the Brazilian club.
Bittencourt’s attempt to lure Ronaldo was indirect, but he did get a clear response from Mendes. “Cristiano isn’t interested in playing in Brazilian football at the moment,” Mendes told him. Bittencourt tried to sell the idea, pointing out that Fluminense’s colors match the Portuguese flag, and it would be a dream come true for the fans. However, he acknowledged that some players are concerned about the violence in Rio de Janeiro, citing a recent incident where Flamengo players were robbed at the airport.
Neymar’s Near Miss
Bittencourt also spoke about his project to bring Neymar to Fluminense, albeit temporarily. With Neymar’s contract set to expire on June 30, Bittencourt contacted Santos to request permission and even got coach Renato Gaúcho on board. “Renato is very close to Neymar, and he thought it was a great idea,” Bittencourt explained. However, the plan was to bring Neymar in just for the Club World Cup, and then have him return to Santos. Unfortunately, the proposal was rejected, partly because Neymar needed time to recover from an injury.
A Partnership That Didn’t Pan Out
Bittencourt emphasized that the partnership would have been a one-time thing, with Neymar representing Fluminense only for the Club World Cup. “The management teams are friendly, and it was just a momentary arrangement,” he clarified. Neymar’s father was receptive to the idea, but ultimately, the player decided to focus on his recovery instead. “He was honored and flattered by the offer, but he wants to use this month to recover,” Bittencourt revealed.
Bittencourt’s attempts to sign big-name players like Neymar and Ronaldo may not have paid off, but it’s clear that he’s willing to think outside the box to bring success to Fluminense. As the Club World Cup approaches, fans will be watching with bated breath to see if their team can make a splash on the international stage.