Celtic target in court bid to leave for nothing
Defender Fabricio Bruno takes legal action against his club
BRAZILIAN side Cruzeiro last night went to war with wantaway Celtic target Fabricio Bruno by outlining details of a proposed transfer to Parkhead.
Cruzeiro also claimed more negotiations over the centre-back moving to Glasgow could still take place on Boxing Day after being unsatisfied with unofficial initial figures.
But Bruno may end up moving to the champions for free after filing a lawsuit against his club.
Cruzeiro went public
with a statement on their website in another twist in the battle between club and player after Bruno’s lawyers lodged papers at a court in Belo Horizonte.
Bruno’s camp are claiming unpaid wages over seven months this year, demanding either reimbursement – or his contract ripped up allowing him to quit Cruzeiro for free.
Club chiefs reacted with dismay and took the matter a step further by opting to place all details of Celtic’s alleged interest into the public domain.
The Brazilians claim a proposal was put to them by an agent for a loan deal worth just over £250,000 until the end of the season with a further fee of £2.1million to be paid if a permanent transfer was subsequently arranged.
Their statement read: “Cruzeiro explains it has not received any official proposal from Celtic for defender Fabricio Bruno.
“The player’s agent Fabio Mello was at Toca da Raposa 2 [club training centre] in the company of Bruno this week and met with the club’s board, represented by directors Marcelo Djian, Benecy Queiroz, Valdir Barbosa and football vice president Marcio Rodrigues.
“Mello reported he met with Scottish club officials in London, England and was authorised to make a proposal from January to June 2020 with Celtic paying 300,000 euros for the loan and 2.5m euros if Bruno was approved.
“Cruzeiro did not accept and countered 1m euros for the loan and 4m euros if the player was approved.
“Director Djian even said if Bruno did not stay with Celtic he would return undervalued and Cruzeiro would only receive 300,000 euros, a very small amount.
“The agent of the defender said the amount requested by Cruzeiro was a little high but he would work to increase the values of the loan and sale.
“Mello also said he would be travelling on December 26 to London and invited Djian to join him in the negotiation.
“Cruzeiro never ended the negotiation but was surprised by agent Mello who later called Djian and Queiroz apologising and warning the case would be brought to justice by Bruno.”
This was in reference to the lawyers making their court moves against the cash-hit club that could end with Cruzeiro getting nothing.
The case hearing was scheduled for February but Bruno’s suits are looking for an earlier conclusion.
The player’s lawyer Joao Chiminazzo said: “Considering his salary is greatly in arrears and his image rights have not been paid, this has left him with little alternative but to request a contract termination. Cruzeiro are in clear breach.”
But before the release of the statement, club vicepresident Rodrigues said: “Fabricio cannot do this to us. He was brought through this club and created here. I consider him, like all of the boys like him, as a son.
“Let’s talk to him to try to make a deal. I can’t sell an important player for a small amount.
“Their proposal was verbal. We put ours on paper. We were not resistant. We simply wanted to value a player from Cruzeiro and reach a good value for the club.”