Crystal Palace have entered the race for Corinthians midfielder André after sending a scout to watch the 20-year-old in action, with the Premier League club joining Juventus among the European sides keeping tabs on one of Brazil’s brightest prospects.
According to ESPN Brazil, a Crystal Palace representative was at the Neo Química Arena on Thursday to watch Corinthians’ 3-0 win over Remo with André very much the focus. The midfielder rewarded that attention by setting up Yuri Alberto for the opening goal.
The scouting mission comes as Palace weigh up midfield additions this summer and follows Juventus emerging as another serious contender for the youngster.
Crystal Palace add themselves to the picture
Palace’s interest has clearly moved beyond simple background checks, even if there’s still no official offer on Corinthians’ desk.
ESPN revealed last week that Juventus have already made their first contacts and are considering a formal bid for André. The Turin club are also looking at Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha, who spent last season on loan at Tottenham.
Corinthians, meanwhile, already know exactly what it would take to sell their academy graduate. The Brazilian club want*€18m (£15.6m) guaranteed, plus another €4m (£3.5m) in bonuses, for 80% of the player’s economic rights.
The ownership split makes the deal a little different from most. André owns 30% of his own rights, while Corinthians control the other 70%. As things stand, the player would transfer 10% back to the club and keep the remaining 20%.
Corinthians hold the cards
With a contract running until December 2029 and a €100m (£86.8m) release clause, Corinthians are under no pressure to cash in unless a club comes close to their valuation.
It’s easy to see why interest is growing. André has become one of the standout young midfielders in Brazilian football thanks to his calmness on the ball, ability to control the tempo and growing influence in the first team. His display against Remo only added to the hype.
European clubs have been keeping tabs on him for months. AC Milan came very close to signing André earlier this year, with talks progressing well before Corinthians president Osmar Stábile stepped in and decided to keep the midfielder.
Now Crystal Palace have entered the mix. Sending a scout to watch André in person suggests the Premier League side are gathering all the information they need before deciding whether to make their move, while Juventus continue to work in the background.
With Palace now joining Juventus, and Corinthians’ asking price already established, André looks set to remain one of the hottest names in the South American market over the rest of the summer.
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