With Fluminense having advanced to the Copa Libertadores final, Liverpool target Andre Trindade is set for a flawless conclusion to his career. The 22-year-old was a target over the summer as the Reds went about rebuilding their midfield.
Although summer is considered the off-season in most European football, the South American calendar is quite different, and Liverpool’s approach for Andre arrived right in the middle of their pursuit of the Brazilian season and, crucially, Copa Libertadores campaign. Fluminense ultimately refused to let their number seven leave while the club still had a chance to win continental glory.
The South American version of the Champions League is the Copa Libertadores, which Fluminense hasn’t won in their history. President Mario Bittencourt, however, refused to consider an exit for a crucial player because it might jeopardize the Rio-club’s chances of winning their first championship as the team advanced steadily through the rounds. In an interview with ESPN Brasil last month, Bittencourt stated: “Liverpool’s Chief Executive [Billy Hogan] contacted me directly. I replied, “My friend, I don’t sell players right now, and I don’t deliver them either.
