At the start of 2011, Thiago Neves was loaned out to Flamengo and had impressed in his spell at the club, winning over the Rubro Negro faithful despite once playing for the clubs arch-rivals Fluminense.
Such impressive form convinced the clubs directors to start negotiating with the midfielders parent club Al-Hilal for a permanent contract.
Flamengo initially proposed a deal worth €7 million, in which they planned to pay off in instalments over the course two years. Despite meeting Al-Hilal"s asking price for Neves, the Saudi club wanted the instalments to be paid off over one year.
Flamengo refused, insisting they wouldn"t change their stance on their offer and the deal then looked all but off.
However, Thiago Neves" agent Léo Rabello has now confirmed the Carioca club have made a new offer and is confident Al-Hilal will this time accept the proposal.
“Flamengo have sent a new proposal. [The number of payments] has been reduced and we are coming closer to what they want. I believe that the Arabs will accept it,"Rabello told Globoesporte.
Flamengo"s vice-President of finance, Michel Levy, has also stated the club are expecting an answer by Monday and if the deal is accepted, Thiago Neves will put pen to paper on a four-year contract.
