United’s hopes of signing South American sensation dwindle as €9.25m deal nears completion – report

Manchester United are unlikely to secure the signature of a Brazilian wonderkid they have been tracking for some time. INEOS employed a mixed approach in the transfer market this summer, investing heavily in Premier League-proven quality as well as emerging talents from other leagues. Their efforts have already borne fruit, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens hitting the ground running, and Benjamin Sesko also showing promise. While the first team remains the focus of their attention, United also continue to search for emerging talents from across the globe. The Red Devils have been trying to make their presence felt in the South American market of late and have been linked with several players. A recent report from The Peoples Person has named Ricardo Mathias as the English giants’ next target. United have scouted Mathias United have turned their attention to younger talents following INEOS’ arrival, signifying a long-term approach to their transfer plans. Mathias, as such, suits their strategy. The 19 year old enjoyed a tremendous rise after joining Internacional in 2022 and broke into the senior side last year. This season, the Brazilian forward has registered six goals in 32 appearances. Ricardo Mathias Stats: 2025 CompetitionAppearancesGoalsAssistsYellow CardsRed CardsMinutes Played Campeonato Brasileiro Série A22511-800′ Copa Libertadores41—229′ CBF Brasileiro U203–1-241′ Copa do Brasil2–1-122′ Campeonato Gaúcho1—-8′ Total32613-1,400′ Source: Transfermarkt. Internacional previously wanted €20 million to let their prized asset leave, but are reportedly willing to let him go for just €7 million. The player’s price tag suits the Red Devils, who have already scouted him earlier this year, but are yet to submit a formal offer. However, it now appears that a move to the Theatre of Dreams could be off the cards. Mathias on his way to Al Ahli According to Globo Esporte via Sport Witness, Mathias is all set to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli in a reported €9.25 million deal. Internacional will receive 60% of the fee, which amounts to approximately €5.5 million. The report mentions United’s interest and the player’s €65 million release clause. However, it adds that the Brazilian’s inconsistent performances and the club’s financial struggles have forced Internacional to consider a cut-price deal. Talks between the Brazilian club and their Saudi counterparts are at an advanced stage, and the deal is expected to be completed in the next couple of days. The sale will enable Internacional to achieve their financial targets for this year. The Red Devils, meanwhile, look set to miss out on an emerging South American starlet. Final Thoughts United have lacked a potent goalscorer in their squad for a while and are working to add more depth to the attack. The Red Devils appear to have improved their scouting network of late, which is why they were in contention for Mathias. While the odds were not in their favour in this pursuit, the Premier League giants now have a structure in place that puts them in a strong position in the race for the next emerging football stars. As such, United are unlikely to panic over the latest developments. Feature image Ernesto Ryan via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Deepungsu Pandit Deepungsu has been a Manchester United fan since 2000. In his playing days, he was an attacking midfielder with a proclivity for the back heel. Right now, however, he prefers to operate as a regista. Deepungsu has been writing about the Red Devils, Football, and other things since 2009. He has worked for over seven years with Sportskeeda, writing football reviews, opinions and news articles. Deepungsu also maintains a blog, The Thinking Me, where he writes about life and things that interest him. His favourite Manchester United player is Paul Scholes.