Flamengo secure permanent deal for midfielder Maia

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan. 5 (Xinhua) -- Flamengo have reached an agreement with Lille to sign midfielder Thiago Maia on a permanent deal, according to media reports in Brazil.

The 24-year-old, who joined Flamengo on an 18-month loan in January last year, will be tied to the Rio de Janeiro outfit until 2027, newspaper O Globo said on Wednesday.

It added that Flamengo agreed to pay the French Ligue 1 club four m