Max Alves Saga Over: Colorado Rapids Transfer Max to Cuiabá

COMMERCE CITY – There is finally clarity and resolution. Colorado Rapids announced today they have transferred midfielder Max Alves to Cuiabá Esporte Clube in Brazil, the club announced Monday afternoon. This comes nine months after news broke of Max being investigated by Brazilian authorities for sports betting that included him getting a yellow card as a substitute in a Rapids game against LA Galaxy in September 2022.

Ge Globo was the first to report this transfer being in the works. Max played for Cuiabá on loan from Flamengo in 2021. Cuiabá finished midtable in the Brasileiro Série A in 2023. This transfer immediately frees up a U22 Initiative Slot as well as an International Slot for Colorado. Burgundy Wave is working to obtain information regarding a potential transfer fee.

Max had previously been put on administration leave from the day the news broke in May. He remained on leave through this transfer. On team availability reports, that was described as “removed from team activities.” FotMob described his absence as physical discomfort.

MLS launched an investigation which is open and ongoing. It may continue for the purposes of understanding how this happened and what the league can do to further deter players from sports gambling, who knows. If it remains open for the purpose of determining fault for Max or others, it will likely continue through and possibly beyond the investigation by Brazilian authorities.

Curiously, his player link on both the club and league websites is now broken, not something we see for other previous MLS players. Per Transfermarkt (since I can’t look up his stats through MLS anymore), he played 38 times for the Rapids across one and a third seasons. He scored that goal in Champions League during Snow Clasico 4. He had been playing regularly and well leading up to the investigation. It was a shame really.

At time of publishing, there has been no official announcement that the investigation is done or what the verdict is regarding Max’s alleged involvement. A jail sentence of 2-6 years is possible as well as a ban (partial or lifetime) from the Brazilian Football Confederation. Pending the outcome, FIFA could also suspend him globally. He may be cleared of charges. He be sent to prison. He may take a plea deal to avoid charges but in the process have his career declared over by the football governments.

According to his social media posts, he appeared to have gone back to Brazil for some time after that but was back in Denver this past fall. Per his social media, he’s been back in Brazil as of mid November.

Whether this travel was related to the investigation, personal matters, or trying to stay fit at altitude in case he was allowed to rejoin the team, Burgundy Wave can only speculate.

Whatever the outcome, it is no longer a concern of Colorado Rapids and MLS. Still feel bad for him given his upbringing, as empathized by Jack Price previously. He seemed like a good kid. Maybe Cuiabá knows something about him being made eligible to play in Brazil. Maybe they’re taking a flyer on a former player, doing him a solid.

Reports out of Brazil are that Colorado paid a $1 million transfer fee for Max in January 2022. Burgundy Wave has heard but been unable to confirm that the guaranteed fee was $750K with potential add-ons that could have reached a million. This move back to Brazil had been in the works for several weeks.

Good luck, Max. Hope you get your day in court and find peace in the legal and sporting outcomes that await you.

Photo Credit: Mark Shaiken

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