Nino Transfer from Zenit to Fluminense
According to Globo.com, Nino is the ideal signing for Fluminense's board to replace Thiago Silva, but the deal remains stalled by Zenit.
According to a report from ESPN BR, Fluminense is making efforts to re-sign Nino from Zenit. The report also states that Nino wants to return to Brazil and is trying to influence Zenit's resistance. Zenit demands 10 million euros to begin negotiations.
Zenit has changed its position and refused to listen to proposals for Nino in the current transfer window. Fluminense's management contacted Zenit to present a proposal, but the Russian club refused to listen at that time. Zenit allowed for the possibility of further talks in the mid-year transfer window, which starts in May, but did not guarantee Nino's release. It was agreed that another round of conversations would happen in December regarding the transfer window for the next season.
Nino is the priority target for Fluminense. Interest in the player dates back to mid-2025, and any progress is contingent on Zenit. A meeting between the parties to discuss the deal is expected in December.
A deal for Nino has not progressed in recent days, although the parties maintain constant talks with the defender and his staff, expressing the desire to have him for the next season. The signing depends on Zenit agreeing to sell him, and negotiations are only expected to advance after the Copa do Brasil as the management does not want to be distracted from the competition's decisive phases. The defender wishes to return and the club wants him, being willing to make a significant financial commitment to complete the deal. So far, nothing has been finalized.
ESPN BR reports that Cruzeiro holds an interest in signing Nino from Zenit and is expected to be in competition with Fluminense for the player. Should the defender return to Brazil, his preference is Fluminense.
Fluminense is the leading contender to sign defender Nino, who is expected to leave Zenit in the transfer window. Nino has revealed to close associates that if he returns to Brazil, he will give preference to Fluminense. According to ESPN, the Rio de Janeiro team has a verbal agreement with the defender but is trying to reduce Zenit's asking price of approximately 10 million euros.
Zenit defender Nino landed in Brazil on Monday morning for a vacation during the Russian football mid-season break. Fluminense is waiting for the end of the Copa do Brasil to take further action regarding the player, who is interested in returning. The club's strategy is to officially approach Zenit and formalize a bid after the competition ends. Fluminense intends to meet with Nino in person to discuss a possible return, which will depend on the Russian team's position. The club knows an investment will be required if Zenit agrees to negotiate, and there are currently no financial figures proposed to begin talks. Fluminense considers Nino an important player for the 2026 season and relies on the defender's desire as a key factor to facilitate the negotiation. So far, he is the only target defined by the club for 2026.
According to Lance, Nino's departure from Fluminense in 2023 was caused by his desire to play in Europe. The footballer wants to return to Brazil for family reasons, as he has a young daughter who requires more attention. Lance states a second factor influencing his intention to return to Fluminense is the exclusion of Russia from international competitions. As a result, Nino is no longer being monitored by the Brazilian national team coaching staff, for which he debuted in 2023.
According to Lance, Fluminense is interested in signing defender Nino from Zenit, and the parties have already started negotiations. The source states that although it will be difficult for Fluminense to reach an agreement with Zenit, the Russian club appears more open to negotiations.
Fluminense has restarted talks with Nino, who wishes to return to the club. The return depends on negotiations with the Russian club, and talks will intensify following Fluminense's recent election. During his presidential campaign, Mattheus Montenegro stated that if elected, he would attempt to sign the defender. In an interview with ge, Montenegro said Nino is one of the main targets for 2026 and that the player showed interest in returning to Brazil in the middle of the year. A previous conversation with Zenit was conducted by president Mário, but there was no release, and the clubs agreed to resume talks in December. Montenegro described the possibility as distant but still a possibility.
According to journalist Pablo Oliveira, Fluminense made an inquiry for Zenit defender Nino but was deterred by the price set by the club. The Saint Petersburg club values the defender at €15-18 million and is not ready to sell him before next summer.
Fluminense attempted to repatriate Nino, but Zenit stated they would not negotiate at the moment. The financial aspect and lack of time to find a replacement made the deal unfeasible. Fluminense plans to make another attempt in January.
The central defender Nino from Zenit Saint Petersburg may transfer to Fluminense in the upcoming winter transfer window. The Brazilian club's management is keen to finalize the deal during this period and does not plan to sign anyone else for this position. Previously, Zenit rejected an offer from Fluminense this summer, despite Nino's desire to leave the club. Zenit wants to keep the player until the beginning of 2026.
Fluminense is keen on acquiring Zenit's defender Nino and is ready to start a new round of negotiations with the Saint Petersburg club, according to the Brazilian publication Globo. The club's management has admitted that the transfer would be challenging due to Nino's importance to Zenit, but they remain hopeful that the player's personal desire could be a decisive factor in the upcoming negotiations. Previously, Fluminense had made a transfer offer of €8 million for Nino, but Zenit has indicated that they would only consider releasing the player if the offer reaches at least €12 million. Nino joined Zenit from Fluminense in the winter of 2024. In the last season, he participated in 25 matches across all competitions, scoring two goals and assisting two others. His current contract with Zenit extends until the summer of 2028, and according to Transfermarkt, his market value stands at €11 million.
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