Botafogo has begun negotiations to bring back striker Tiquinho Soares, a recent fan favorite, who is looking to return to the club after leaving Santos last July.
The transfer market remains busy behind the scenes at Glorioso. In a move that surprised some fans, the black-and-white board opened negotiations to facilitate Tiquinho Soares‘ return to Nilton Santos Stadium. The center-forward, a key player in the historic Brazilian Championship and Copa Libertadores victories in 2024, has been a free agent since terminating his contract with the São Paulo-based club through legal means.
The potential reunion comes about a year and a half after the player’s departure, which occurred in early 2025. At the time, his high salary was the main obstacle to Tiquinho‘s stay; although he was one of the team’s pillars, his earnings were above the average for the starting squad of that victorious season.
New Financial Reality at Glorioso
For the deal to materialize, Botafogo is working with a contract model focused on fiscal responsibility. According to information gathered by M360 Team, the plan is to sign a contract valid until the end of 2026, with a significantly lower salary structure than what was in place during the player’s first stint at the club.
The negotiation is for a contract until the end of the year with a salary significantly lower than what he received during his first spell.
Legacy and History at the Club
Tiquinho Soares‘ tenure at the Lone Star club is marked by impressive numbers. Signed in August 2022, the striker quickly became the team’s technical reference. In 2023, he solidified his prolific scoring phase by netting 29 goals, proving fundamental to Botafogo’s offensive machine. In total, the player accumulated 120 matches and 44 goals before his departure.
The potential return of a name so closely associated with the recent achievements of 2024 brings anticipation for the rest of the season and for next year’s planning. The board remains cautious in negotiations, seeking to balance the desire to once again have Tiquinho‘s goal-scoring prowess with the financial sustainability of the current sports project.
M360 Team
