Hakim Ziyech has put a proposed move to Botafogo on hold at the last moment, despite having agreed terms with the Brazilian club and recording a presentation video in their shirt.
The Morocco international, 33, was also understood to have had a flight booked to Rio de Janeiro for Sunday as he prepared to leave Wydad Casablanca.
However, according to Globo Esporte, Ziyech asked for more time to consider the transfer after speaking by telephone with fellow Moroccan Zakaria Labyad, who currently plays for Corinthians.
Ziyech is reported to have become concerned about the quality of pitches in Brazil. Labyad, who recently suffered a serious knee injury, is said to have shared his experience of playing in the Brazilian league, prompting the former Chelsea player to reconsider the move.
The conversation was not necessarily negative overall, but it appears to have been enough to create doubts over a transfer that had seemed close to completion.
Botafogo have attempted to reassure Ziyech and keep the deal alive. Several of the club’s players are understood to have contacted him, including Danilo Pereira da Silva, who previously played alongside him at Ajax, and Alex Telles.
The move has not been officially abandoned. Brazil’s transfer window remains open until 11 September, giving Botafogo time to try to persuade Ziyech to complete the switch.
A move to Brazil looked set to provide an unexpected escape route for the Morocco international, whose position at Wydad Casablanca has become increasingly difficult.
Ziyech had initially wanted to continue with the Casablanca club, but his relationship with the new leadership has deteriorated significantly. He was left out of a friendly match and then excluded from the club’s preparation camp in Agadir.
He was subsequently reportedly told to train alone after refusing to accept a reduction in his salary.
The dispute later became public when Ziyech criticised Wydad president Ibrahim El Asri, accusing him, among other things, of lying.
The disagreement has also taken on a legal dimension. Ziyech called in a bailiff to formally document the circumstances surrounding his exclusion from the squad and training arrangements.
His possible move to Botafogo therefore represented a potential solution for a player who appears to be increasingly distant from Wydad’s sporting plans.
Ziyech began his senior career at Ajax before going on to play for Chelsea, Galatasaray and Al-Duhail. He returned to Morocco but is now seeking another challenge at this stage of his career.
A transfer to Brazil would have been one of the most surprising destinations of his career. The announcement video had already been recorded, his journey had been organised and an agreement had been reached, but the phone call from Labyad has left the entire deal uncertain.
If the details of that conversation are confirmed, Labyad may not be especially popular among Botafogo supporters.