O Botafogo presented an official proposal to sign the right winger Lucas Villalbafrom Nacional-URU, aged 24, and negotiation is close to being concluded. Nacional’s vice-president, Alex Saúl, revealed the fact this Monday (08/12).
– There is a real proposal from Botafogo for Villalba. It is a concrete offer. We need to reach an understanding with all parties, as Montevideo City Torque also has a stake in the deal. But, if everything progresses, this will be the sale we will make now – said the director, in an interview with Uruguayan radio “Sport 890”.
Alvinegro offered around 3 million dollars (approximately R$16 million) for 85% of the player’s economic rights, a proposal that would have already been approved by Nacional. The remaining 15% would remain with the Uruguayan club, which in May renewed the striker’s contract until July 2028.
City Torque, Villalba’s previous club and member of the City Group, has until this Tuesday (09/12) to match Botafogo’s offer, but, so far, has not taken any initiative to do so. A Mexican club is also looking for the athlete on the outside.
Lucas Villalba was bought by Nacional in January. The club paid 770 thousand euros to City Torque.
Lucas Villalba: career, characteristics and moves
Lucas Villalba, Nacional-URU’s standout winner of the 2025 Uruguayan Championship, is a striker who stands out mainly for his speed, physical power and ability to accelerate with the ball under control. Right-handed and 1.82m tall, he prefers to play as a right winger, but has the versatility to also play on the left or, in specific moments, as a reference in attack.
The player, born in Montevideo on May 11, 2011, was revealed by Boston River-URU, in 2022, being released by the club. In 2023, he joined Tacuarembó-URU, playing 27 matches and scoring three goals. In 2024, City Torque managed to take the athlete free of charge. There, Villalba played 36 matches, scored six goals and provided three assists, catching the attention of Nacional.
At Nacional, Villalba had a good influence in 2025: four goals and seven assists in 42 matches, numbers that reflect his offensive vocation to provide depth and build plays from the wings. Three assists came in the Libertadores.
Some moves from Lucas Villalba against Bahia, in this season’s Libertadores.
The player provided two assists in Nacional’s victory, at Fonte Nove. Against Internacional, an assist. pic.twitter.com/HJoVRQZcIV
— Informa Fogo (@informafogo) December 8, 2025
Villalba is the football speed record holder
In May, Villalba reached an impressive speed of 38.38 km/h, surpassing the world record held by Micky Van de Ven (37.38 km/h). Thus, he became the fastest player in the world.
The most striking feature of his game is his explosion in long sprints. Villalba is one of those wingers who accelerates in just a few steps, gains ground easily and carries the ball at speed with good coordination. His long stride allows for constant overtaking, something especially useful in quick transitions and counterattacks — a scenario in which he performs more.
About 🇺🇾 𝗟𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗯𝗮 (24):
From what I’ve seen in videos and especially statistically, Villalba has the exact cutting-edge profile that the squad lacks: long stride, speed and a lot of physical capacity. Absolute highlights in acceleration with the ball and carries.
(+) pic.twitter.com/nRfwGnGfG9
— Cardoso ©️ (@cardoso_bfr) December 8, 2025
In addition to his speed, Villalba has above average physical imposition for a winger. His athleticism means he wins many duels, both hand-to-hand and from the air – something unusual in players of his position. This combination of power, acceleration and endurance makes him effective at breaking lines by carrying the ball.
Another important characteristic is the way he uses the fact that he is a right-handed right-winger: Villalba tends to create many plays from strong and targeted crosses, taking advantage of attacking the baseline or reaching the area at speed. He also moves well without the ball, infiltrating to finish or create superiority in the sector.
His decision-making is considered intelligent, especially in support plays and assists, which explains the consistent number of decisive passes this season.
Lucas Villalba: points to improve
Despite his good physical repertoire and his qualities in the fast-paced game, Villalba still needs greater refinement in his short dribbling, especially in positional attack scenarios, when he needs to dismantle closed defenses.
Lucas Villalba: how he can fit into Botafogo
If confirmed, Villalba arrives as a player capable of offering depth, aggression on the flanks, quick transition and the ability to generate a physical advantage against defenders. His style fits as an immediate option to explore spaces, accelerate counterattacks and add strength to the offensive sector.
At just 24 years old and with a profile still evolving, he is an athlete with room for growth and market potential – something that was already being highlighted in Uruguay, where many believe he would not stay for long.
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