Atletico Mineiro are interested in signing Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva.
Atletico Mineiro are keeping tabs on Liverpool defensive midfielder Lucas Leiva, according to Brazilian daily newspaper O Tempo.
The brazilian side are said to have been keeping a close watch on Lucas, who has found time on the pitch hard to come by this season, and it seems as if now Mineiro believe it’s time to bring him back to Brazil.
30-year-old Lucas was also linked with a move away to Inter Milan, who were said to be interested after learning of the midfielders lack of game time.
Lucas has served 1o years at Liverpool, with his current contract set to expire in the summer, and he has already stated that he feels he needs to be playing regularly, even if that means away from Anfield.
Atletico Mineiro’s squad includes former Brazil international, Real Madrid, and Manchester City forward Robinho, and finished 4th in the last campaign of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
It is also reported that Lucas Leiva is expecting more offers to come in, some from European clubs, and that he will wait for these offers before making his decision regarding his future in the coming weeks.
Lucas has previously played in Brazil, with Grêmio, racking up 38 appearences and 4 goals for the club before his move to Liverpool in 2007 – and has also earned himself 24 caps for Brazil.
Since arriving, he has turned out for the Reds over 200 times, and has a League Cup victory to his name from the 2011-12 season.
He also scooped up Liverpool’s player of the year award during the 2010-11 season, and has found the net 6 times for Liverpool over the course of his time in Merseyside.
It is understandable why a footballer at Leiva’s age would want more game time, nearing almost the tail end of his career, it will be interesting to see if he opts to stay at Anfield despite not featuring regularly, or seek a new challange elsewhere, Brazil, perhaps.
