Congo DR striker Cédric Bakambu will not join Brazilian club Internacional after negotiations between the two sides broke down.
The Porto Alegre-based club confirmed on Wednesday that talks with the 35-year-old had ended without an agreement, bringing to a close a transfer that had appeared close to completion.
Internacional said “the necessary conditions for finalizing negotiations were not met between the parties.”
The decision means Bakambu must now look elsewhere for the next stage of his career after talks with the Brazilian side reached an advanced stage.
The Congolese international had been considered as an experienced addition to Internacional’s attack, with his career having taken him across several major leagues in Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
The proposed move had gathered momentum in recent days, with reports suggesting Bakambu and Internacional were close to reaching an agreement.
However, Brazilian media reported that negotiations eventually stalled, with the two parties unable to settle the outstanding issues.
The club has now formally ended the discussions, although reports cited in the original information suggest Internacional have not completely ruled out revisiting the possibility of signing the striker at a later stage.
For now, however, there will be no move to Brazil.
The development leaves Bakambu searching for another destination as he attempts to continue a career that has included spells in France, Turkey, Spain, China, Greece and Saudi Arabia.
Bakambu began his professional career with Sochaux in France, where he emerged as a promising young forward before moving abroad.
His next stop was Turkey with Bursaspor, where his performances helped establish him as a striker capable of making an impact outside France.
The move that brought him his biggest European profile came at Villarreal in Spain. Bakambu became a prolific scorer for the club, earning recognition for his finishing ability and performances in attack.
His success in Spain subsequently led to a move to China, where he joined Beijing Guoan.
He later returned to European football, with spells involving Marseille, Olympiacos and Real Betis. He also played for Galatasaray, where he won the Turkish league title.
Bakambu’s career has also included a spell in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nasr before another return to Betis in Spain.
That journey has made him one of the more experienced African forwards of his generation, having played in a number of different footballing environments.
The collapse of the Internacional deal leaves Bakambu with a decision to make as he looks for another club.
At 35, the Congo DR forward brings considerable experience to any potential destination, having played at the highest level across several continents.
His time at Villarreal remains one of the standout periods of his career, while his spells in Turkey, Spain, China, Greece and Saudi Arabia have further broadened his experience.
