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The football director of FC Dallas, who worked for teams such as Grêmio, Santos and Sport, has a goal of preparing the launch of Brazilian talents for Europe
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Whether due to financial power, the spotlight brought by Lionel Messi and Luís Suárez or the national team competitions in sight – Copa América in 2024 and World Cup in 2026 –, the United States began to receive a different look in the football market . And a Brazilian director created a strategy to bring jewels directly from Brazil to MLS: André Zanotta.
At 44 years old, the football director of FC Dallas, who worked for teams such as Grêmio, Santos and Sport, is since 2019 in the United States. Accompanied by a compatriot on the scout team and having professionals in South America, he knew how to explore the abundant raw material present in green-yellow lands that did not have space in the base of big teams, such as Flamengo and Palmeiras.
< "Last year we brought Henry, a Palmeiras defender on loan, who is now at Mirassol to our B team. This year, Pedrinho, Beto's son (former midfielder of Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense, Vasco, São Paulo and Grêmio), came to our B team too. We made an agreement, Flamengo got a percentage, his contract was ending. It's a market that, obviously, due to the amount of talent there is in Brazil and opportunities , it interests us", he told ESPN.com.br in an online event held by MLS.Pedrinho is part of the strategy outlined by André Zanotta to have even more quality Brazilian athletes in the Dallas squad. Initially, they are part of team B. Then, they develop, move up to the main team and, if they stand out, take the next step in their career, towards Europe.
"I see Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, the main clubs in Brazil, who will not be able to take advantage of the amount of talent they produce. And players who sometimes will not have the level to play in Flamengo's main team, in Palmeiras' main team. But they have a very good to come here and be able to be successful in MLS. So Pedrinho is the case where we see very good potential in him. Then it's a project where he comes, adapts and, if everything goes well, moves up to the main team ", he completed.
The club has a big difference in work
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The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.
The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.
During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term.
Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.
Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.
The club has been in a race against time
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Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.
In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.
The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement.
In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.
Rubro-negro is leading the race to have the 32-year-old veteran next season.
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Oscar's return to Brazilian football after 14 years working abroad is still not a certainty. The midfielder, who will be out of contract with Shanghai Port at the end of November and is looking for a new shirt to wear from 2025 onwards, has received surveys in recent weeks from teams in Saudi Arabia and the United States, markets capable of paying higher salaries. higher than the five-time world champion country.
Here in Brazil, Flamengo is leading the race to have the 32-year-old veteran next season. Internacional and São Paulo, clubs that the player played for at the beginning of his career, are also studying the possibility of signing him.
Working in China since 2017, Oscar has a salary considered outside the market reality. He receives 24 million euros (R$ 136.9 million) per season, more or less the same income as Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland at Manchester City.
The Brazilian's inflated pay slip is the last remnant of the "golden era" of Chinese football, which tried to compete against Europe in the second half of the last decade by paying a lot of money to attract stars to the country. As he signed his current contract before the implementation of the salary cap of 3 million euros (R$17.1 million) for foreign players, a law in force since 2020, the midfielder was able to continue earning above the spending limit.
< The benefit, however, ends along with the current bond. If he were to renew with Port or sign with another Chinese club, Oscar would need to adapt to the current rules and reduce his earnings to just over 10% of their current value. This is one of the reasons why the midfielder is not even considering extending his stay in the second most populous country in the world.
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