Manchester City's owners have made a bid of around £3.5 million for Flamengo prodigy Vinicius Souza, according to reports in Brazil claiming that a move for the promising defensive midfielder was vetoed by manager Jorge Jesus.
City Football Group, the Abu Dhabi-owned holding company behind City's vast wealth, seized upon their good relationship with the Brazil under-20 starlet to table an offer for the promising youngster, Hora has claimed.
Souza has been with Flamengo since he was 19, playing less than half an hour in total across three substitute appearances as his club breezed to Serie A glory last season.
Jesus, who spent six years at Benfica, is believed to see the prospect as an important part of Flamengo's attempt to defend to defend their title when the season begins in Brazil.
The veteran coach has described Souza's physicality, vision and ability to mark players as his key strengths, likening the young powerhouse to Manchester United star Nemanja Matic.
Speaking at the end of his first senior season with the club, Souza said: 'I made my biggest dreams come true. May 2020 surprise me even more.'
Flamengo have also won the Copa Libertadores, Supercopa do Brasil and Recopa Sudamericana since Souza joined the first team squad.
TheRedDevils102
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city? thank God it's not Man United