Reports suggest that Roma has increased its offer to Santos for striker Marcos Leonardo. Jose Mourinho’s club initially offered around $9 million for one of Brazil’s brightest prospects – and were laughed at by Santos’ management. Thankfully, the latest offer is at least respectable – although the Brazilian giants are yet to respond.##NAJAVA_MECA_7410109##The Italian club has set its sights on the Brazilian player after being outbid by Inter and Atalanta for West Ham United’s Gianluca Scamacca. However, Santos is asking for over $16.5 million, and Roma are trying to reduce the difference with different add-ons, some of which are easier to activate than others. According to Il Tempo, the latest proposal is worth $12 million plus $7.6 million in performance-related bonuses, and Santos would be guaranteed a 10% of the sell-on fee. Todos os gols do Marcos Leonardo em 2022 pic.twitter.com/fsz7okbC8m— Santos da Opressão (@SantosOpressivo) July 28, 2022 Nevertheless, there are still some significant issues, as reported by the Brazilian website O Globo, since Roma wants to spread the payment over several instalments, which would not start until 2024. The Brazilians are losing patience. On Thursday, Santos’ football coordinator Paulo Roberto Falcao said that “there is no chance” of Marcos Leonardo being sold for what Roma offered.”With the proposal made to Marcos Leonardo, there is no chance of him leaving under the conditions Roma offered. It was a ridiculously low offer for the U-20 World Cup top scorer. There’s no chance of leaving under the conditions that were presented.” In addition to the fee being unimpressive, Falcao blatantly refused the instalment plan proposed by the Italians.”I didn’t get involved, and I don’t get involved. Roma’s offer was way too low and way too stretched out over time. The payment terms were not right. That’s no way to do business.”Marcos Leonardo is Santos’ starter and, despite the team’s current poor form, has good numbers in the season. In 30 games, he scored 14 goals. Mourinho takes a cheeky swipe at Roma for not signing a strikerMeanwhile, Jose Mourinho is putting pressure on the board to finally secure some attacking reinforcements before the new season begins.
