Flamengo Look To Make Ibson Deal Permanent

Ibson joined FC Porto in the winter of the 2004/5 season, and quickly forced his way into the team with several critics voting him Porto’s player of the year for that season.

However, the Brazilian failed to cement his place over the following seasons, particularly due to the arrival of Argentine Lucho Gonzalez, and found himself having to look elsewhere for first team football.

The midfielder joined Flamengo on-loan last summer, a deal which terminates on the 30th June 2008. He has been a key component of the Brazilian side.

Ibson has made it clear that his relationship with current Porto manager Jesualdo Ferreira leaves much to be desired, and it now seems that ‘Fla’ will be attempting to sign him permanently.

Speaking to Portuguese sports daily ‘Record’, Ibsons father Lais Silva commented that if Porto were to allow his son to leave the club for four million euros, Flamengo would buy him permanently.

However, Silva also indicated the complexity of the situation by adding “Ibson's agent (Jorge Mendes) once received a five million euro offer from a Spanish club for him which he presented to Porto officials…an offer they rejected.”

Silva concluded by saying that the players monthly wage would not be a problem for the Brazilian club, stating “His monthly wage doesn’t worry Flamengo, he earns little more than 30,000 euros a month, a wage any club in Brazil can play.”

FC Porto will surely be assessing the situation, and with the possible exit of Lucho Gonzalez in the near future, the club will be looking at suitable replacements.

However, the volatile relationship between Ibson and manager Ferreira indicates that it is unlikely the midfielder will be returning to Porto in the summer, and so the club may well consider a bid from Flamengo.