The season came to an end after the Copa do Brasil final on December 15, leaving fans to debate on which team is having the best transfer window, preparing for the next season.
The major winners this year were Palmeiras, who won the Copa Libertadores da América for the second year in a running, and Atlético-MG, who won three titles: the Campeonato Mineiro, the Campeonato Brasileirão, and the Copa do Brazil.
Following the season’s conclusion, new speculations about who will join and leave certain teams have emerged: we will list the top five player signings in the country from now until the end of 2021, as well as the key speculations – currently under discussion – that could arrive in Brazil’s major clubs in the coming days.
Signed contracts
Felipe Melo at Fluminense
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Felipe Melo was announced to Rio’s tricolor, on December 13th. From 2017 until 2021, the 38-year-old midfielder played for Palmeiras and won nearly everything: two Libertadores (2020 and 2021), one Copa do Brazil (2020), one Brasileirão (2018), and one Paulistão (2020). His deal with Fluminense runs until December 2023.
Willian “Mustache” at Fluminense
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Willian “Bigode” was also confirmed as a new signing, joining Felipe Melo at Fluminense. On December 19th. The 35-year-old striker spent the same amount of time at Palmeiras as Felipe Melo, winning the same titles, before joining Fluminense and signing a contract that runs through December 2023.
Marcelo Lomba at Palmeiras
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Marcelo signed a one year contract at Palmeiras, and it was made known on December 14. He won the title at Internacional between 2018 and 2021 and was named the best goalie at the Brazilian Championship in 2018. The 35-year-old will have arduous task of competing for a starting spot against Weverton, a goalkeeper who has been a regular in Tite’s Brazilian squad.
Rafinha in São Paulo
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Even though the 36-year-old right defender was relegated to Serie B with Grêmio in Brasileirão this season, Rafinha was confirmed as a new Sao Paulo signing on December 10. From 2011 through 2019, Rafinha played for Bayern Munich in Germany, where he won the 2013 World Cup, and Flamengo in Brazil from 2019-2020, where he won the Libertadores in 2019.
Paulinho at Corinthians
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Paulinho, an old acquaintance from Sao Jorge Park, confirmed his return to Timão on December 15th. He is recognized as a hero at Corinthians, where he won the Brasileirão (2011), Libertadores (2012), and Mundial (2013) between 2010 and 2013. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur in England and Barcelona in Spain during his time away from Sao Paulo, and he returned with a deal that runs through the end of 2023.
Transfer speculations
Martín Benítez at Grêmio
São Paulo FC
According to a report published by UOL Esporte on December 28th, Martin Benitez is on the verge of joining Grêmio from Rio Grande do Sul. The tricolor has reached an agreement with Argentina’s Independiente, with the ads on remaining to be finalized for the 27-year-old’s transfer.
Edinson Cavani at Corinthians
Naomi Baker
According to reports from the GE portal on December 29th, Edinson Cavani is considering terminating his contract with Manchester United, with Corinthians keeping an eye on the issue and not giving up hope of signing the 34-year-old striker.
Douglas Costa at Atlético-MG
Lucas Uebel/Grêmio
According to a report published on the GOAL website on December 26, Atlético-MG have already made contact with Douglas Costa, a 31-year-old attacking midfielder who is now on loan at Grêmio. It’s probable that he’ll end up in Belo Horizonte if the tricolor from Rio Grande do Sul terminates his contract, which is expected to happen now that the club has been relegated to Serie B and will struggle to pay the athlete’s exorbitant wage.
Edenílson at Atlético-MG
Ricardo Duarte/Inter
According to UOL Esporte, Inter and Brazilian national team defensive midfielder Edenilson is also interested in joining Atlético-MG in 2022. The Minas club attempted to recruit the 32-year-old player, last year.
Yeferson Soteldo in São Paulo
Reprodução
ESPN Brazil reported on December 28 that Sao Paulo is interested in signing Venezuelan attacking midfielder Soteldo. The 24-year-old was a standout for Santos between 2019 and 2021, and he is on the verge of canceling his contract with Toronto FC, where he is unhappy. The Sao Paulo tricolor then awaits the process to be completed before presenting an official offer to the player.
Expectations for 2022
The three most financially viable clubs in the country, Atlético-MG, Flamengo, and Palmeiras, were also the top three in the previous season of the Brasileirão. They are heavy favorites to compete in the country’s and continent’s major championships in the year 2022.
Athletico-PR, the 2021 Copa Sudamericana champion, could potentially be a surprise. Corinthians, who already had a star-studded squad with players like Willian and Renato Augusto, is attempting to carve out its own niche after adding Paulinho.
After the initial market shifts in 2022, whose team do you think will be the most powerful? You can keep track of the transfer market at Sambafoot.
