President of Fluminense, Mario Bittencourt, has officially stated to ESPN Brasil that he rejected an offer from Liverpool for midfielder Andre during the recent transfer window.
Liverpool aimed to bolster their midfield after the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia and saw Andre as a potential reinforcement before the September 1st deadline.
“Liverpool’s Chief Executive [Billy Hogan] contacted me directly,” Bittencourt told ESPN Brasil in an exclusive interview. “I replied to him: ‘My friend, I don’t sell players now and I don’t deliver them now. If you want to buy now and only get the player in January, we can start talking… Or if you want to wait until December, we can talk in December.”
Fluminense are reluctant to let Andre leave before the end of the season, with the team in contention for the Copa Libertadores.
The Rio de Janeiro-based club has reached the semifinals of South America’s elite club competition and takes on fellow Brazilian outfit Internacional next month.
“There is an agreement between us, with the player and agent, that he would stay until the [Andre] end of the year,” Bittencourt said. “They [player and agent] have complied fully and with the utmost peace of mind. Every interest that comes in, they communicate with Fluminense.”
Andre, a 22-year-old talent, has earned his place in Brazil’s squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Currently under contract with Fluminense until December 2026, Andre holds a pivotal role in coach Fernando Diniz’s plans.
This season, Andre has already participated in an impressive 43 games, making him a standout performer who has consequently drawn interest from numerous clubs.
Reportedly, Fulham had a €20 million ($21.4 million) bid for Andre turned down earlier this year, underscoring his value and potential in the football market.