Velez Sarsfield intends to keep Maximo Perrone despite interest from Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Wolves, according to a member of the club’s technical staff.
Newcastle is reportedly willing to go over and beyond Perrone’s contract’s £9 million release clause in order to deter rival suitors, including Wolverhampton Wanderers.
According to the South American newspaper Diario Popular, the Magpies are willing to put up £12 million. Newcastle and Perrone’s agent, Rolando Zarate, are currently in talks. Talks are also being held with the Velez Sarsfield leaders.
However, the Argentine outfit is not yet ready to accept the loss of one of its finest assets.
“Hopefully, Maximo Perrone can stay at Velez,” says Emiliano Papa, an eight-time Argentina international who currently works behind the scenes at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium.
“We have him today. Then there’s the footballer’s fantasy. He had a fantastic year, and it was unfortunate that he was injured at the end.”
Despite suffering from fitness problems during the final few weeks of the campaign, Perrone still ended his breakthrough 2022 season with 33 appearances across all competitions, accumulating 13 yellow cards along the way.
Sergio Busquets is Perrone’s idol. Because of his poise in possession and ball-carrying ability, he has been compared to Frenkie de Jong. Perrone is one of several promising young South Americans on the radars of both Newcastle United and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Newcastle is also interested in signing Santos attacker Angelo Santos and Vasco da Gama midfielder Andrey Santos from Santos.
Meanwhile, Wolves are interested in Dario Osorio, a teenage Chile international who has drawn similarities to Gareth Bale, Angel di Maria, and Barcelona’s former Leeds United star Raphinha.
“(Central midfield) is the position that I like the most,” explains the dynamic and diminutive Perrone; labeled a ‘spectacular’ talent by former Velez coach Gabriel Heinze.
“Because (in midfield) the ball passes through me a lot. I can see the pitch in front of me and I can reach the penalty area. I want to cover all the positions in midfield.”
