RIO DE JANEIRO - Palmeiras manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has played down reports that the club could sign former Brazil forward Hulk from Shanghai SIPG.

Hulk has attracted the interest of several Brazilian Serie A teams as he enters the final six months of his contract with the Chinese Super League side.

"It would be very difficult to sign Hulk," Luxemburgo said in an Instagram Live session on Thursday. "It would be great if he could come to Palmeiras, but it's complicated," he added, in reference to the financial cost of repatriating the 33-year-old.

Last month, Hulk revealed that he was aware of interest from Palmeiras and "many other" clubs but said he had not spoken to them out of respect for Shanghai SIPG.

Hulk, who has been capped 47 times for Brazil's national team, has scored 86 goals and provided 47 assists in 138 matches with Shanghai SIPG, whom he joined from Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2016.

The former Porto star helped the club win the Chinese Super League title in 2018 and the Chinese Super Cup last year.?