MLS Multiplex
Fansided

Antonio Carlos may leave Orlando City and reach an agreement with Fluminense

By Arthur Fernandes

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 21: Antonio Carlos #25 of Orlando City SC runs on the field during the second half against the New York City FC during Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs at Exploria Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 21: Antonio Carlos #25 of Orlando City SC runs on the field during the second half against the New York City FC during Round One of the MLS Cup Playoffs at Exploria Stadium on November 21, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Fluminense, one of the most traditional soccer clubs in Brazil, is committed to strengthening its defensive line for the upcoming season. With increasingly strong rumors about the imminent departure of captain Nino, possibly to Nottingham Forest in England, the board of the Rio de Janeiro club has set their sights on center-back Antônio Carlos, currently with Orlando City, as the main target to fill this important gap in the team.

Antônio Carlos, a well-known name in the Brazilian soccer scene, has piqued the interest of Fluminense since the previous season. Despite having accepted the Tricolor’s proposal, the bureaucracy surrounding the release from the American club has been an obstacle. However, with his contract set to expire in December this year, the player seems determined to return to Brazil and wear the shirt of the team that saw him born as an athlete.

Follow MLS Multiplex on X (Twitter).

The possibility of Orlando City extending Antônio Carlos’s contract until 2024 might seem like a hindrance, but the player’s undeniable desire to defend Fluminense could easily tip the scales in favor of the Rio de Janeiro club.

Orlando City FC’s defender Antonio Carlos (L) and Club Santos Laguna’s midfielder Diego Valdez fight for the ball during the 2021 League Cup quarterfinal match between Orlando City SC and Club Santos Laguna at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on August 12, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Orlando City FC’s defender Antonio Carlos (L) and Club Santos Laguna’s midfielder Diego Valdez fight for the ball during the 2021 League Cup quarterfinal match between Orlando City SC and Club Santos Laguna at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Florida, on August 12, 2021. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP) (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images) /

The center-back, who has established himself as a permanent starter for Orlando City since his arrival in 2020, has shown consistency and skill in his performance, contributing with one goal and one assist in 22 games played this season.

While the club continues to be in advanced negotiations with the player, Fluminense has also considered other heavyweights, such as the renowned Thiago Silva from Chelsea, to reinforce its defensive ranks.

With high expectations and a firm eye on strengthening the squad, Fluminense aims not only to bolster its defense but also to reignite the flame of competitiveness and success in the national and, who knows, international scene. The potential signing of Antônio Carlos could be a crucial step in building this path to success.

Home/Orlando City SC