Liverpool target Andre is now just one game away from helping Fluminense end their long wait for the club’s first Copa Libertadores title after they defeated Internacional last week. The Brazilian midfielder emerged as a top target for Liverpool in the summer following the exits of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
But reports in Brazil claimed Fluminense were unwilling to listen to any offers while they were still competing in the Copa Libertadores. Fluminense’s participation in the competition went on beyond the summer transfer deadline, forcing Liverpool to look elsewhere.
Jurgen Klopp ended up bringing in Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch, but it’s been suggested that Liverpool still retain an interest in Andre. The 22-year-old is now just one game away from a fairytale ending to his career with Fluminense.
The Brazilian outfit recorded a dramatic late win over Internacional in the second leg of their semi-final to reach the Copa Libertadores final for only the second time in the club’s history. The only other time Fluminense made the final was back in 2008 when Thiago Silva was lining up for the Brazilian side.
Fluminense ended up losing to LDU Quito on that occasion with the final played over two legs. The format changed to a single match final in 2019 with a Brazilian team winning every time.
And Andre’s team may have the advantage in this year’s final against Argentina side Boca Juniors. The 2023 Copa Libertadores final will be played in Brazil’s iconic Marcana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, where Fluminense are also based.
The match will take place next month with the season in Brazil ending in December. And Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt has already admitted that they will be more willing to hold talks with Liverpool over a move for Andre in the January transfer window.
“Liverpool’s Chief Executive [Billy Hogan] contacted me directly,” he told ESPN. “I replied to him: ‘My friend, I don’t sell players now and I don’t deliver them now.
“‘If you want to buy now, and only get the player in January, we can start talking… Or if you want to wait until December, we can talk in December’.”
