Talles Magno transfer rumors link him to Brazil

Where will Talles Magno play his next game? It might be back in his home country of Brazil, as two teams in the Série A are said to have interest in the 22-year-old.

Recent reports connect the New York City FC Designated Player with a transfer to Atlético Mineiro and his former club Vasco da Gama.

Thiago Fernandes of Goal Brazil reported on June 28 that Atlético Mineiro was in "advanced talks" to sign Talles Magno, and that the negotiation, if completed, would be "definitive," which seems to imply a sale.

Atlético Mineiro were said to be interested in Magno back in February, which was also around when the young Brazilian was reportedly a target of Bologna in Italy's Serie A.

Talles Magno wants transfer, Bologna FC interested: Reports

The 21-year-old Brazilian is reportedly looking for a move away from MLS, and he might have a Serie A suitor.

Hudson River BlueAndrew Leigh

Brazilian journalist Lucas Pedrosa of SBT Sports also reports that Vasco da Gama wants Talles, and would cover his full salary in a loan, but NYCFC is insisting on either an outright sale for $10 million, or a loan with an obligation to buy for that same $10 million amount.

Vasco is the team that sold Talles to NYCFC in 2021, a transfer that could have cost up to $12 million if certain performance benchmarks were hit.

Magno has been missing from the New York City squad so far in 2024, and wasn't even listed among the available substitutes since June 14 vs Columbus Crew. He played just six minutes as a substitute back on Matchday 1, the entirety of his on-field contribution to date.

The player himself acknowledged he doesn't think he's long for New York City as part of his candid comments to J.R. DiBart of the Blue City Radio podcast, which included calling his conversations with Nick Cushing "not good."

Talles Magno was also rumored to be a target of SE Palmeiras during the summer of 2023, so a return to Brazil has been a simmering possibility since at least last summer.

His Designated Player contract, which pays him a base salary of $950,000 and a total possible compensation of $1.2 million, runs through December 2026, which was confirmed in the recent release of the NYCFC roster profile.

New York City 2024 roster profile released: 5 Takeaways

We crunch the numbers and estimate that NYCFC have at least $3.7 million in GAM.

Hudson River BlueHudson River Blue Staff

What next for Talles? He doesn't seem to be in Nick Cushing's plans, even if he's still training and ostensibly a part of the NYCFC team. Though that, like all things, could always be subject to change.

New York City's captain, fellow Brazilian, and newly-minted MLS All-Star, Thiago Martins, spoke to the City Boys following the win over Orlando City SC about Talles and his situation, saying it was all a decision for Talles and the club to make.

For now, Magno remains Schrödinger's cat Designated Player: At once a part of the NYCFC squad and all but gone from the NYCFC squad, pending the conclusion of his latest transfer saga.

Where’s Magno?

The 21-year-old Designated Player has been an unused sub since returning from injury at the start of May. We look at why Talles Magno is on the bench — and why nobody seems to mind.

Hudson River BlueOliver Strand