Highly-rated Brazilian attacker Luan, on the radar of a string of European clubs including Liverpool, appears to have played his last game for Grêmio.
In the aftermath of a 2-1 victory over Godoy Cruz that sealed his current team’s passage to the quarter-finals of the Libertadores, the 24-year-old was collared for an interview by domestic media immediately after his man-of-the-match performance.
Asked about his future, the 2016 Olympic gold winner explained that whilst his thoughts are still in Grêmio, a solid decision on the matter will be revealed today; both acknowledging the pleas of Grêmistas for him to stay on social media and in the ground by holding up “Fica Luan” banners, as well as solid offers made by foreign parties such as Spartak Moscow.
In fact it was this proposition from the Russians that saw Liverpool send scouts to Porto Alegre to see the number 7 in action last night, though according to Grêmio’s vice-president, the Reds are still yet to approach the southern Brazilian club with a formal bid for their prized product.
Perhaps increasing Luan’s value will be the announcement, made before his own expected one sometime later this evening, of being called up for Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Colombia, the former of which is to be held in Grêmio’s stadium.
Also in contention with Sparta and Liverpool are Italian Serie A outfit Sampdoria at the same time Arsenal have been linked to the forward. It is believed that any offer, with Grêmio owning just 70% of the player’s economic rights and looking to make a tidy profit, would have to exceed the €20mn already refused by club chiefs.
One team eager to see Luan leave as soon as possible, regardless of who captures his signature, would be São Paulo’s Corinthians; currently leading Grêmio atop the Brazilian championship by eight points and aware that their nearest rivals will be severely-weakened by his departure.
Generally speaking however, the wider Brazilian public would prefer to see one of their country’s most talked-up prospects head to a top European league for the sake of his own development rather than linger in the doldrums of their Russian or Ukrainian equivalents.
