Real Madrid have signed attacking midfielder Reinier Jesus from Flamengo. The 18-year-old joins the La Liga club on a six-year deal for a reported €30m (£25.6m) fee.
Reinier is the latest young Brazilian talent to be snapped up by Real, following the recent signings of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo Goes. He will arrive after Brazil’s pre-Olympic tournament finishes in February, and is expected to initially join up with the club’s reserve side, RM Castilla – coached by Real legend Raúl.
The club’s statement hails Reinier as “one of the leading emerging stars in the world game” whose strengths include “technical ability and creative talent on the ball.” The Brasilia-born playmaker won the 2019 Brazilian league title and Copa Libertadores with Flamengo, and was part of Jorge Jesus’s squad for the Club World Cup in Qatar.
The departure of Reinier, who has been capped by Brazil up to under-23 level, is likely to anger his former coach. Jorge Jesus recently told Portuguese TV that “a player like [Reinier] can’t be sold for €30m. Flamengo doesn’t know how to value its brand.”
Real Madrid spent more than £200m on signings last summer, including Rodrygo. The move for Reinier reaffirms Florentino Pérez’s determination not to miss out on the next South American superstar, after seeing Neymar join Barcelona in 2013.
Blades set to sign Robinson, Kodjia leaves Villa
Sheffield United are close to signing defender Jack Robinson from Nottingham Forest, with the 26-year-old set to complete his move to Bramall Lane this week.
Robinson, a versatile left-back who should suit Chris Wilder’s defensive setup, may only cost the Premier League club around £1m. The Liverpool academy product would have been out of contract at Forest this summer.
Wilder has been keen to add defensive reinforcements this month as he looks to build on an impressive return to the top flight. Robinson will join Jack Rodwell as Sheffield United’s second January recruit, with the manager keen to add at least one more.
“I’m no different to any other manager around the country,” Wilder said. “I’m looking to improve the players we have and bring more through the door.”
Jonathan Kodjia has left Aston Villa, joining Qatari side Al Gharafa for an undisclosed fee thought to be in the region of £2.5m. The Ivory Coast international leaves Villa Park after four-and-a-half years, making 91 appearances and scoring 91 goals.
Dean Smith has also allowed Croatian goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic to join Toulouse on loan, following the arrival of Pepe Reina last week. “[Lovre] needs game time, with Croatia qualifying for the Euros,” Smith said. “I’ve got Pepe and Orjan [Nyland], who’s been in fine form for us, so his chances are limited here.”
Another goalkeeper departing the Premier League on loan is West Ham’s Roberto, who joins Alavés. The Spaniard was signed from Espanyol on a free transfer last summer, as a backup to Lukasz Fabianski. Roberto’s error-strewn displays during Fabianski’s injury absence led the Hammers to sign Darren Randolph earlier this month. PA