“The South American market is small for Flamengo”. José Boto’s sentence to Tribuna Expresso, from Portugal, seems to exude arrogance, but it portrays reality. Other statements by the leader, in the same interview, do, indeed, bring an unnecessary point of view. Flamengo finds itself in a limbo between dominating the South American market and having money to fish in Europe, but… being in South America, where it is more difficult to attract players to an adventure often considered “exotic”.
The red-and-black has the capacity to pay €25 million for Samu Lino and has the power to convince a Brazilian at an important European club to have a career in his country. At the same time he offered €8 million to River Plate for Enzo Fernandez, but lost the arm wrestling match to Benfica. Last year, the club made an offer of €6 million for Mikey Johnston, an Irish striker who plays in the English second division.
There is no doubt that Flamengo has money to hire. Revenue in 2025 was R$2 billion, close to €340 million. The amount places the club in the top 20 worldwide. It would be the fourth largest revenue in Spain and Italy, the second largest in France, the third in Germany and the eighth in England.
Why then would it be in limbo? Because no matter how much they map the Brazilian or South American market, Estêvão and Endrick will prefer Europe to a side step here, Enzo sees Benfica as having greater potential to take a leap in his career than leaving Argentina for the neighboring country. Among the players who are already in Europe, the problem is not convincing them to play for Flamengo, but rather, playing in Brazil (or outside of Europe).
Saúl, without space at Atlético de Madrid, and after uneventful spells at Sevilla and Chelsea, agreed. Memphis, who was left without a contract and found nothing interesting in the European middle class, got a European salary and came to Corinthians. But let’s face it, they are not the rule. Normally, a player would prefer Aston Villa, Betis, Napoli (all with a lower budget than Flamengo) to come and play in Brazil.
That leaves the Mikeys Johnstons and more peripheral players than the club’s budget suggests. The center of football is not here and there is nothing Flamengo can do to change that. Saudi Arabia has more money than the big Europeans and manages to bring super names to its league, but they are motivated only by money (although they are very well paid to say otherwise).
Flamengo doesn’t have Arab money and doesn’t have European attraction. Nor will it be a Bayern Munich, which has the total power to convince and absorb players who stand out for rivals Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, etc. Because Estêvãos and Endricks will have Real Madrid and Chelsea as suitors.
The other problem, which justifies José Boto’s statement, is that the team has already reached a certain level. It’s not worth hiring for the sake of hiring. The level of the cast needs to be raised. And it’s not easy to go to the market and sign a better striker than Pedro, a midfielder who can compete with Arrascaeta, a better midfielder than Pulgar. And then it won’t be easy to manage a squad with great players spending a large part of the season on the bench.
Flamengo has a problem. And, in order not to let it pass, an apology must also be made to Renata Mendonça, for the misogynistic and insensitive statements made by her president. It’s not enough to be rich. You also need to have a level.
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