Gabriel Mec is in Villarreal’s sights and receives a new survey from Shakhtar Donetsk By Thiago Lemos
3 min read
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Attacking midfielder Gabriel Mec has once again become a priority target for Shakhtar Donetsk for the remainder of the European season. The Ukrainian club carried out new surveys for the 18-year-old player, who is enjoying his best moment in the Grêmio main team under the command of Luís Castro. The interest comes months after a previous investment was rejected by the athlete himself.
The Grêmio board awaits a formal signal of values from the Ukrainians to move forward in a possible negotiation. Shakhtar’s Além, Espanha’s Villarreal, closely monitors the young man’s steps and plans to send scouts to Brasil. The mid-year transfer window, which opens in July, should be the main stage for official proposals.
Estratégia for sale and appreciation of Grêmio jewelry
Grêmio adopts a cautious stance and financial strategy to deal with the harassment of its main asset in the youth categories. Diferente from the previous administration, president Odorico Roman is seeking figures higher than the 15 million euros offered at the end of last year. The club understands that the increasing draft of Mec in Brasileirão and in continental competitions increases its market price weekly.
Tricolor’s financial situation requires important sales to close the accounts for 2026. Além, the midfielder, and other names in the squad are under constant observation by international scouts.
- Gabriel Mec has accumulated 857 minutes on the field this season.
- The player scored his first professional goal against Coritiba.
- The termination fine and the current contract protect the club from early departures.
- Viery is another name mentioned as a possible source of income for the cash register.
- Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain keep the athlete on watch lists.
Ascensão under the command of Luís Castro in Porto Alegre
Gabriel Mec’s change in level in the professional squad is directly related to the methodology applied by the current technical committee. Luís Castro gave the youngster the starting job in the last four games, allowing him to develop game rhythm and confidence. In the year 2025, the athlete had protocol participations, totaling just 35 minutes during the entire previous season.
The player’s physical preparation also underwent reformulation to withstand the impact of professional football. Esse development attracted the attention of Villarreal, which is looking for South American talents with a technical and physical profile already adapted to high performance. Spanish Representantes should follow upcoming Grêmio games on Arena to produce detailed reports.
Detalhes of the previous refusal and the new European scenario
In September last year, Shakhtar Donetsk presented a proposal that reached around R$95 million at the price at the time. Embora values pleased the leadership led by Alberto Guerra, Mec chose to remain in Porto Alegre to seek affirmation in the top team. The decision proved to be correct with the arrival of the new technical committee, which transformed the promise into a frequent part of the tactical scheme.
The scenario is now different and the player’s maturity is seen as a differentiator by European clubs. Grêmio has not publicly set a value, but expects proposals that significantly exceed the previous offer. The transfer window between July 20th and September 11th is treated internally as the defining period of the midfielder’s career.
