Cruzeiro is intensifying negotiations for Wesley from Al-Nassr, aiming for urgent Libertadores registration. The club is racing against time to secure the forward before the Round of 16.
Cruzeiro‘s board has accelerated talks in recent days for the signing of forward Wesley, currently at Al-Nassr-SAU.
The Mineiro club’s intense movement aims to expedite the bureaucratic process to ensure the player’s registration in time for the decisive Copa Libertadores Round of 16.
The urgency for a new attacking reinforcement has significantly increased following recent injuries to key players on the squad.
The expectation behind the scenes at Toca da Raposa is that a positive outcome for the deal will happen soon.
With a pressing need to strengthen the attacking sector, Wesley‘s arrival is seen as crucial for the club’s ambitions in the continental tournament, which is rapidly approaching with a Brazilian classic already set.
Turnaround in Negotiations
Cruzeiro had distanced itself from negotiations for Wesley in the middle of the month when the player expressed a preference to return to Corinthians, the club where he began his career.
However, the scenario drastically changed. The São Paulo club’s deep financial crisis, facing transfer bans and prevented from registering new players, made his repatriation unfeasible.
This obstacle for Corinthians, coupled with Cruzeiro‘s urgent need for wingers, brought the parties back together.
The progress of the talks was announced and confirmed by specialized press outlets.
Race Against Time in the Libertadores
For Wesley to be able to take the field in the Libertadores Round of 16, where Cruzeiro will face Flamengo, the club needs to complete his regularization and registration by August 7.
This is the deadline set before the matchups, which are scheduled for August 12, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, and August 19, at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro.
The expected deal is a one-year loan for the forward.
Impact of Injuries and Shortage in the Sector
The search for reinforcements was driven by the serious muscle injury of Luis Sinisterra.
In addition to the Colombian, Gabriel Pec, recently signed from LA Galaxy-USA, will also be sidelined for a long period, aggravating the scarcity of attacking options for the club.
Currently, coach Artur Jorge has players like Arroyo, Wanderson, Marquinhos, Kenji, Rayan Lelis, and Bruno Rodrigues for the position.
The board is aware of the shortage in the squad and remains active in the transfer market.
Other Names on the Club’s Radar
Cruzeiro‘s list of targets for winger positions includes, in addition to Wesley, other prominent players.
Among the names being evaluated are Yáser Asprilla, from Girona-ESP, Brian Rodriguez, from América-MEX, and Thiago Fernández, from Villarreal-ESP.
The club is likely not to limit itself to a single signing, planning to bring in a second winger even after Wesley‘s eventual arrival, aiming to deepen the squad for the season’s multiple challenges.
The swiftness in negotiations for forward Wesley demonstrates Cruzeiro‘s priority in strengthening its squad for the decisive stage of the Copa Libertadores.
With injuries compromising offensive strength, the arrival of new talents becomes imperative for coach Artur Jorge.
The tight registration deadline adds an element of a race against time, where every bureaucratic detail can determine the player’s presence in the matches against Flamengo.
The transfer market remains busy for Cruzeiro, which seeks to ensure the best possible performance in its continental campaign.
Equipe M360
