Reading's pursuit of Alexandre Mattos as the club's new sporting director could be thwarted, reports Brazilian media outlet UOL.

Mattos, 43, was first linked with Reading last month. The club were said to be lining him up to be the next sporting director - the role which Mark Bowen held until his October appointment - but several issues have caused the move to seemingly break down.

UOL reports that the main barrier between Mattos and Reading is with visa issues. That, amid uncertainty following Brexit and the outbreak of the Coronavirus, has slowed down negotiations between Reading and Mattos.

Now it looks as though the ex-Palmeiras Chief Executive Officer, Mattos, will join Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro as sporting director.

It sounds like a strange appointment by Reading - he's a man on the other side of the world and with no experience in the English game. There's likely candidates right here in England but strangely, Reading have extended their search to South America to bolster their board.

The deal will take a lot of time to go through, and Mattos faces a lot of uncertainty surrounding his visa status with everything going on in the UK right now. It's unlikely that Reading fans will be too displeased if they miss out.

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The verdict

Reading have turned their season around under Bowen. He's proved a keen appointment and maybe the board would like someone similar in his old role to help keep things ticking over.

They're strange rumours linking Mattos with the club, but it looks as though this is a move that'll just never pan happen.