Reinier: Real Madrid eye January move for Flamengo starlet
Real Madrid are considering signing Reinier in January and putting him in Raúl's Castilla squad until the end of the season.
Real Madrid are considering signing Reinier Jesus once the Flamengo starlet turns 18 on 19 January, with Los Blancos ready to hand him a five or six-year deal.
Reinier would spend rest of season with Castilla
Were Reinier to move to Madrid, he would spend the rest of the season with the LaLiga club's 'B' team, Castilla. Rather than paying the Brazilian's 35-million-euro release clause, Madrid are keen to negotiate a fee of around 30m euros plus add-ons, with Flamengo open to such a deal.
One potential problem for the 13-time European champions was that they already had the maximum 22 players registered in the Castilla squad; however, Manu Hernando's loan switch to Racing Santander has now solved that issue, and enabled a swoop for Reinier to go ahead.
A player long on Real Madrid's radar
Reinier has been on Madrid's radar for some time now. The giants have been tracking the player's progress at Flamengo since 2016, with their interest in the teenager one of the reasons behind the new contract he signed with the Copa Libertadores holders in November - a deal that included the reduction of his buy-out figure from 62m to 35m, so as to facilitate a transfer to Europe.
The midfielder's addition to the Castilla squad would be a welcome boost to Raúl's side, who are currently languishing just three points clear of the relegation places in Segunda División B, Spain's regionalised third tier (albeit they have a game in hand).
Reinier eager to play with compatriot Vinicius
Speaking to AS in November, Reinier discussed the attentions of both Madrid and their city rivals Atlético, declaring: "It's an honour that they are looking at me." Atleti even reached an advanced stage in talks over a move, before cooling their interest.
Despite also receiving offers from clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United, his dream is to continue his development in Spain. "It's a very competitive league," he told AS. "I love Spanish football because Brazilians settle in well there."
And a key factor in his desire to pull on the Madrid shirt is his eagerness to share a dressing room with Vinicius Júnior, who left Flamengo for the Bernabéu in summer 2018. "He's a top player and anyone would like to play alongside him," Reinier said.
Reinier currently on Brazil Under-23 duty
The player is currently on Brazil Under-23 duty, preparing for South America's Olympic qualifying tournament in Colombia, which gets underway on 18 January. His arrival at Madrid would be confirmed after the Brazilians' involvement in the competition, which runs until 9 February.