Fabricio Bruno wants three farewell matches before signing for West Ham United as talks underway
West Ham United’s imminent new signing Fabricio Bruno is keen to play three final matches for Flamengo before joining the club, according to Goal Brazil’s Raisa Simplicio.
Simplicio’s post on X [23 May] outlined three upcoming fixtures for the defender’s current club, which start with a crucial Libertadores group stage finale against Millonarios on 29 May.
Flamengo then take on Vasco da Gama (2 June) and Gremio (14 June) – the Brazilian domestic season runs from April through to December – but West Ham are understandably said not to be so eager.
Bruno – who is not in the Brazil squad for the upcoming Copa America – is set to join the Hammers on a five-year contract after the two clubs agreed a fee of around £12.8m.
Simplicio said: “People close to Fabrício Bruno guarantee that the defender would like to play in Flamengo’s next three games: Millonarios, Vasco and Grêmio.
“The situation, however, will depend on the progress of the negotiations, which are very well underway. It is unlikely that West Ham will allow the defender to enter the field for so many games. His participation against Millonarios, for example, is still unknown.”
West Ham United want Bruno through the door
It’s the start of an eagerly anticipated busy summer for West Ham United.
Following confirmation of Julen Lopetegui’s reign as head coach getting underway, the hierarchy at the London Stadium – spearheaded on the recruitment side by Tim Steidten, who brought in Lopetegui – are keen to tie down Bruno and move onto other targets.
The Brazil centre-half evidently wants to see out his contribution to Flamengo before departing for the London Stadium, which for two clear reasons is against his imminent new employers’ wishes.
The obvious reason is that if he were to pick up an injury, the entire deal could be scuppered and West Ham are immediately on the back foot – not to mention Bruno’s own chance of becoming a long-term Premier League player.
And the Hammers have no time to waste – wholesale changes are expected throughout the squad this summer as they look to become a consistent European challenger – and a ruthlessness is required to achieve that, so don’t be surprised to see Bruno in England sooner rather than later.
In other West Ham news, the club could be affected in the transfer market by the cloud hanging over Lucas Paqueta.
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