Igor Julio is back at Brighton after his loan spell at West Ham, but his return does not close the door on a possible exit. Instead, it opens another chapter, with the defender still carrying chances of leaving, especially for a move outside Europe.

According to Brazilian journalist Samuel Venâncio, speaking during a live broadcast, interest has emerged from Cruzeiro, the club Igor Julio supports. However, the journalist stressed that Brighton have taken a firm position.

The Seagulls will only consider a permanent transfer and have ruled out any form of loan deal. That stance immediately narrows the options for Brazilian clubs following the situation.

This is not the first time a return to Brazil has been explored. Palmeiras previously made enquiries but chose not to push the deal forward. Reports in Brazil indicated Brighton demanded at least £6m (€7m), a figure that proved too high for Palmeiras to pursue during the window.

Cruzeiro’s financial context also matters here. The club recently spent around £26m (€30m) to sign midfielder Gerson from Zenit. They also raised funds by selling full-back Kauã Prates to Borussia Dortmund for about £10m (€12m). Even so, the club remain...