Dínamo Moscow Cancels R$114 Million Player Transfers; Keeta Faces Setback in Cade Ruling

Dínamo Moscow has abruptly canceled the transfers of two Brazilian football players, Gonzalo Plata from Flamengo and Matheus Martins from Botafogo, jeopardizing approximately R$114 million in potential revenue for the Brazilian clubs. The players had arrived in Moscow for final negotiations when the club announced its decision on September 2, citing "a number of reasons" related to the club's long-term interests without specifying details. The transfer of Gonzalo Plata was valued at about €12 million (around R$72 million), while Matheus Martins's transfer was valued at €7 million (approximately R$42.4 million).

Flamengo refuted any medical concerns, stating Plata is fit and has no serious medical history, and criticized Dínamo's handling as "amateurish and irresponsible," with the club considering legal action and planning medical assessments to support claims for damages. Similarly, Botafogo contested Dínamo's assessment of Martins and is exploring actions concerning both the contract cancellation and the use of Martins's image during the Moscow reception.

In a separate but significant business dispute, Brazil's competition authority Cade unanimously denied Keeta's request for preventive measures against 99 Food's exclusivity clauses with restaurants. Keeta, operated by Chinese company Meituan, accused 99 Food of anticompetitive behavior due to exclusivity contracts that prevent restaurants from partnering with Keeta and Rappi, although iFood, the dominant player, is not mentioned in these agreements. This decision represents a setback for Meituan's expansion efforts in Brazil.

These two high-profile cases illustrate ongoing legal and competition challenges impacting Brazilian business transactions in 2026, reflecting the complexities Brazilian companies face in both sports transfers and the fiercely competitive food delivery market.