Sometimes a transfer story is not really about whether a club wants a player. It is about how loudly the selling club is willing to say no. In Allan Elias' case, Palmeiras have done that with a price tag that leaves very little room for misunderstanding: €100 million.
That number came from Abel Ferreira after Palmeiras beat Vasco in the Brasileirao, and it was not framed as negotiation so much as a warning. Manchester City had already made an opening proposal earlier in the summer transfer window, offering €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons for the 22-year-old winger. Palmeiras, at least for now, are not treating that as a serious starting point. They are treating it as evidence that City know the kind of player they are chasing.
Why Palmeiras think Allan is different
Ferreira's case was blunt: Allan does what 90% of wingers in Brazil cannot do. He attacks and defends down the flank for 90 minutes, which is exactly why a club reshaping its attack, and potentially looking for a Savinho replacement as Tottenham-bound uncertainty grows, has put him on the radar. That profile matters because it is not just about dribbling or final passes. It is about work rate, tactical flexibility and the ability to survive the demands of a high-level system.
Ferreira also pointed to the way Allan can change a team's structure. He described him as someone who can play as a right-back, as happened against Miami, or fit into a back three out wide and drift inside for rotations, as seen with Giay. That is the sort of versatility European clubs pay for, and it explains why Palmeiras believe the market values him well beyond a simple winger label.
The numbers help explain the confidence. Allan has nine goals and 12 assists in 96 appearances, which is a strong return for a 22-year-old whose value is also tied to his defensive contribution. Ferreira's broader point was that clubs do not just buy attackers; they buy players who can do multiple jobs inside and out of possession. On that logic, the fee is not just about output, but about rarity.
Palmeiras are not rushing anything
There is also a timing problem for Manchester City. Palmeiras face Santos in the first leg of their Copa do Brasil quarter-final on 26 August, then travel to Mirassol four days later before the decisive return leg at Vila Belmiro. That schedule leaves little breathing room, and Ferreira made clear the club hierarchy and coaching staff are working against the clock while the summer window is still open.
He also suggested that Palmeiras are in no hurry to sell for less than they believe the player is worth. Ferreira said the club has sold players for figures like 40 million before, which only sharpens the point: if Palmeiras are willing to reference that level as routine, they are hardly going to be impressed by a mid-range opening bid. The message is simple. If City want Allan, they will have to test the ceiling, not the floor.
There is a football argument underneath the transfer noise, too. If Allan leaves, Ferreira said, Palmeiras would lose quality but not competitiveness. That is the sort of line a manager only uses when he believes the squad is built to absorb a sale without losing its identity. It is also why this is such a difficult negotiation for the buying club. Allan is valuable not only because of what he does, but because Palmeiras believe they can survive his departure on their own terms.
For Manchester City, the question is whether a 22-year-old with 96 appearances and a flexible attacking profile is worth a fee that starts at €100 million. For Palmeiras, the answer is already clear. Allan is not just a player they hope to keep. He is the kind of player they believe forces one of Europe's biggest clubs to pay up properly.
