Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro giants, have been impressive in their group games at the cash-rich 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
The Brazilian side convincingly beat ES Tunis 2-0 in their opener, with Wesley an unused substitute. Yet he started the next game, with Juventus scouts witnessing his 82-minute contribution during the 3-1 triumph over Chelsea in Philadelphia.
Manchester City, Juve’s next Group G opponents, are also showing interest in landing the Brazilian international. AS Roma as well as Brighton & Hove Albion are rumored to be monitoring his situation with Flamengo.
Wesley came perilously close to switching to Serie A last summer, but his €16 million (US$18.6m) transfer to Atalanta fell through because of scheduling conflicts with Flamengo’s Brasileirao and Copa Libertadores commitments.
Russia ruled out
Flamengo rejected Zenit St. Petersburg’s €25m (US$29m) bid during the winter transfer window, with Wesley reported at the time to favor a move to Europe.
Any negotiations with Juventus will kick off at the same price. Although Flamengo sporting director Jose Boro prudently suggested to Gazzetta dello Sport that the club would be open to offers of at least €30m (US$34.9m) after the Club World Cup finishes in mid-July.
Wesley has two team-mates who used to play for Juventus, Danilo and Alex Sandro. They can give the rising star some guidance.
Out of favor
Yet Danilo’s unceremonious exit under the then head coach Thiago Motta, who froze out the 33-year-old, may come back to bite the club.
The former Juventus captain was offloaded last January, replaced by Chelsea loanee Renato Veiga. Danilo turned down following ex-Juve manager Antonio Conte to Napoli to wind down his impressive career with Flamengo.
Danilo made over 200 appearances in five-and-a-half years with the Serie A giants, amassing over 200 appearances. He last featured in the Juventus matchday squad as an unused substitute in December’s stalemate with Fiorentina.