STAR MISSES TRAINING WITH £17M CRYSTAL PALACE MOVE CLOSER THAN EVER
Matheus Franca did not train with the Flamengo squad on Tuesday as the winger closes in on a potential £26 million move to Premier League outfit Crystal Palace.
After agreeing a move to Turkish giants Galatasaray last month, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish labelled Wilfried Zaha the ‘greatest’ player in the club’s history.
So, with Matheus Franca potentially arriving to take his place, a 19-year-old with only 18 months of first-team football under his belt certainly has have big boots to fill. No pressure, then.
What Franca lacks in experience and proven quality, however, he more than makes up for in potential. It speaks volumes about highly the teenager is regarded – by both Flamengo and Palace – that Franca will reportedly have a ‘Ballon D’Or clause’ in his Eagles contract.
The Brazil U19 international joins for an initial £17 million – rising to £26 million with add-ons – after director of football Dougie Freedman made the exhausting 6,000 mile trip from London to Rio to watch Franca in the flesh.
Crystal Palace close in on Matheus Franca deal
“Franca is an attacking midfielder and there is a real talent there,” South American expert Tim Vickery told Sky Sports of the forward, who scored nine goals in 54 Brazilian Serie A games.
“He’s strong on the ball and he’s got a lovely dip of the shoulder.”
It remains to be seen if Franca will be cleared to make his Premier League debut during next week’s opener away to Sheffield United. An agreement feels imminent, however; Coluna do Fla reporting that Franca was conspicuous by his absence in Flamengo training on Tuesday as he prepares to board a flight to England.
Newcastle United reportedly made two bids for Franca in January. There was also interest from Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid in a player who’s speed and trickery has seen him labelled the second-coming of Santiago Bernabeu superstar Vinicius Jr.
For now, however, the hope will be that Franca can help Palace adapt to life without arguably their most favourite son.
Zaha out, Franca in
“As I start a new chapter, I want to speak to you Palace fans who mean so much to me,” an emotional Zaha writes on Instagram.
“We have been through so much together, including 10 years in the Prem. There are loads of amazing memories. I’m so proud to have played my part in getting us to the Prem and helping to keep us there.
“I’ve been wearing the Palace shirt since I was 8 years old. It’s literally been my second skin and I always gave everything when I wore it.
“I grew up two roads away from the bright lights and loud crowds of Selhurst Park, having no idea that I would be at the centre of it all one day.
“I want to thank Steve Parish, all of my team-mates, coaches and the entire Palace fanbase for always believing in me and encouraging me to get to where I am today.
“From the bottom of my heart, I’m forever grateful.”
