West Ham United’s business with Brazil is not finished yet, it seems, just over a week after Lucas Paqueta completed his return to Flamengo.
Paqueta made the impossible possible when heading back to Brazil during the January transfer window, giving up his Premier League career and millions of pounds in the process. West Ham United finally came to an agreement with Flamengo before a deal in the region of £38 million was signed and sealed.
As the Hammers look into potential midfield targets heading into the summer, Flamengo could soon be joining the Londoners around the table again.
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West Ham were linked with Evertton Araujo, a new teammate of Paqueta’s, last week.
Globo Esporte have now thrown Matheus Martinelli into the mix. At Fluminense, rather than Flamengo, the 24-year-old is another Brazil-based midfielder reportedly on the radar of a club who have moved on Guido Rodriguez, Andy Irving and James Ward-Prowse since the turn of the year.
But as he explained after Fluminense won the Guanabara Cup last weekend – they beat Marica in Sunday’s final – getting Martinelli out of the Maracana will not be an easy task.
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Matheus Martinelli in no ‘hurry’ to leave Fluminense for west Ham United
Martinelli, like the aforementioned Evertton Araujo, is a defensively-minded midfielder renowned for his ability to control the tempo of the game from a deep-lying role.
Globo Esporte describe him as ‘one of the standout players in Brazilian football in his position’. The publication also claims that West Ham were one of a number of clubs to make an offer during the winter window, alongside Olympiakos, Besiktas, and a handful of Saudi Arabian outfits.
Even if Fluminense had accepted the Hammers’ alleged £10.5 million bid – they want a minimum of £17 million – convincing Martinelli to leave his beloved Tricolor may be the tricky bit.
“I’m very happy here. I have no words to describe my feelings for the club, a club that has done so much for me. If I could, I would renew until 2050,” an impassioned Martinelli told Itatiaia after winning his seventh trophy as a Fluminense player.
“It’s natural for [transfer rumours] to come up outside, but I leave it in the hands of my agents, the board, whatever is good for the club, good for me…
“I’m not in a hurry about [leaving]. I have a clear head, I’m very happy. I want to play many more games here at the Maracana, with a packed Maracana, win titles. That makes me very happy, every time I step onto the field I try to be like a kid from Xerem.”
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Lucas Paqueta’s Flamengo teammate Evertton Araujo linked with the Hammers
Martinelli’s current contract runs until 2027.
West Ham, who will face Manchester United at the London Stadium tonight, have done plenty of scouting on Brazilian soil in recent times. Luis Guilherme and Luizao arrived in East London from Palmeiras and Corinthians respectively.
West Ham reportedly wanted Cruzeiro striker Kaio Jorge before signing Pablo and Taty Castellanos last month too. Jorge, like Martinelli, had little interest in crossing the Atlantic.
It remains to be seen whether Araujo, a 22-year-old ball-winner who won the league and Copa Libertadores double in 2025, feels the same.
“West Ham [are] eyeing Everton Araujo,” Flamengo reporter Leo Jose wrote on X last week. “The English club got wind of the player through their scout. The 22-year-old midfielder is now being closely watched by the London team.
“I’ve also heard that West Ham values the player at around 12 million euros. Flamengo are holding out for a much higher price, given he’s a young talent with European market potential.”
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