Liverpool & Arsenal target Andre Trindade explains why he rejected summer transfer
- Liverpool failed with an attempt to sign Andre during the summer
- Playing in the Copa Libertadores was too important for young midfielder
- Arsenal have joined the hunt for Andre
By Tom Gott
Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade has confessed he rejected the chance to leave the club during the summer because he had already promised to help his current side win this season's Copa Libertadores.
Club president Mario Bittencourt has already confirmed that Liverpool failed with an offer to sign Andre during the summer, but 90min understands the Reds remain keen to get a deal for the 22-year-old over the line.
The Reds may, however, have to fend off competition from Arsenal, who have identified Andre as a potential January target as they seek to bolster their own midfield.
In an interview with CONMEBOL ahead of the upcoming Copa Libertadores final, Andre confessed he dreams of a move to a major European side but opted to reject the chance to make the move in an attempt to lead his current team to glory.
"In this past window I didn't talk about it, the first time I'm going to talk in more depth will be now," he said. "It really was an irrefutable proposal from the club that plays in a big league.
"I think every player one day dreams of playing for a big club in Europe, in a big league. But I decided to keep my word because when the January window closed, Diniz [Fluminense manager] arrived and told me that he wanted me here until the end of the year. We didn't know that a proposal of that amount would arrive and I told him that, regardless of what happened, I would be there until the end of the season.
"It ended up passing and arriving in the middle of the year, we were still in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. It was a very difficult decision to make. I think if I had accepted this proposal, I don't know if I would have felt 100% comfortable because I had already agreed with Diniz. He really values his word, his honesty. I know that when we do the right things, good things always happen. And in January he told me that without a doubt, if I stayed I would gamble and my value would increase.
"For me I had not to think about these things and just do the right thing. Our team could be eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, we have to make the decision. Arriving at the final, everyone will say now that I made the right decision. I think it was a very faithful gesture on my part, to stay, to try to get this title, to try to help as much as possible. So today, regardless of whether our team advanced to the quarter-finals, semis, now the final or not, I was sure that I made the right choice. We are in the final now, we will do everything and I will give my life to win this title.
"At the end of the year, I don't know what will happen, many things could happen. I'm sure that just having arrived here, knowing that it worked, was something that helped me a lot as a person and also helped me in my career. I think that as Diniz said, when we make the right choice, when we are faithful and when we act honestly, good things always happen ahead."
Fluminense will take on Boca Juniors in the Copa Libertadores final on November 4, after which the Brazilian side are expected to field a whole host of offers for Andre.
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