Raposa resists red-black proposals, sets a high price for the attacker and cautiously views any negotiations on the domestic market
January 1
2026
– 6:18 p.m.
(updated at 6:18 p.m.)
The negotiation involving Kaio Jorge remains far from being completed and has already taken on the appearance of a soap opera on the football market.
Cruzeiro was firm in his conversations with Flamengo, refused all advances made so far and made it clear that he only accepted progress in a very specific scenario: a high financial demand and the inclusion of a name that really pleases the board and technical committee.
According to a survey conducted by the ESPN BrazilRaposa set a baseline value of €50 million for the striker, which translates to something close to R$320 million.
Even admitting to discussing an exchange format, the Minas Gerais club insist on keeping the overall figure high and show no interest in negotiations considered below that level.
In this context, Cruzeiro ruled out the possibility of receiving Everton Cebolinha as the main player of a possible composition. Despite having been approved internally, the striker is in the home stretch of his contract with Flamengo, which in the opinion of the Celestial board significantly reduces his market value.
Therefore, the preferred name for an exchange has become Luiz Araújoalthough, even in this scenario, the Minas Gerais club demands financial compensation of more than 30 million euros (approximately R$194 million).
Interest in Flamengo’s forwards grew after the arrival of Tite as Cruzeiro’s technical commander. At the request of the coach, the management began to insist on signing Cebolinha or Luiz Araújo, regardless of whether Kaio Jorge was involved in the deal.
Yet the conversations face obstacles. While Cebolinha has dropped places throughout the season, Luiz Araújo is considered an important part of the Red and Black team, has a contract until the end of 2027 and is considered a much more complex negotiation.
On the Flamengo side, the search for Kaio Jorge remains active. The Rio club presented significant proposals, including an offer of 32 million euros, partly in cash and partly with the transfer of Cebolinha, in addition to a percentage of added value in a future sale.
None of them, however, was enough to convince Cruzeiro, who had also rejected a previous investment of a fixed amount close to 30 million euros.
Internally, the assessment of SAF Cruzeirense is that Kaio Jorge would only leave for around 45 million euros, in addition to the resistance of President Pedro Lourenço to negotiate one of his main elements with a direct competitor of Brazilian football. This rigid stance also reflects the club’s decision to avoid domestic sales, which partly explains the demand considered unrealistic by other clubs.
Meanwhile, Flamengo remains on the market looking for a zone striker to compete with Pedro, a declared priority for the 2026 season. Even dreaming of Kaio Jorge, the red-black council is already working, behind the scenes, with alternatives, aware that the negotiation with Cruzeiro is one of the most difficult in the current window.
At 23, Kaio Jorge is going through a big phase. Hired by Cruzeiro in 2024 after spells at Juventus and Frosinone, the striker has established himself as one of the country’s top scorers, being the recent top scorer in the Brazilian Championship and Copa do Brasil. With this, Raposa maintains her strategy: she will only open a conversation under conditions considered irrefutable.
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