Botafogo Nears Deal for Nacional Winger Lucas Villalba After City Group Club Passes

Overview

• Montevideo City Torque did not use its five-day right to match by December 9, clearing Botafogo’s path to sign the player.
• Botafogo has verbal agreements with Nacional and Lucas Villalba and is awaiting his arrival in Rio for medicals before finalizing the contract.
• Club and media reports place the transfer at about US$3 million, combining fixed amounts with performance-related add-ons.
• Sporting director Alessandro Brito says Villalba fits the profile of a fast right-sided winger to restore depth and attacking runs the team lacked this year.
• The 24-year-old logged 42 appearances for Nacional with 4 goals and 7 assists, including two in a Libertadores win over Bahia, as Botafogo also advances other reinforcements after agreeing Riquelme.