Flamengo Stadium: Caixa estimates loss of more than R$1 billion with expropriation

José Boto finds himself without the support of Flamengo's board of directors and is considering resigning . In addition, another aggravating factor could make the director say goodbye to the club early. This is because new leaked conversations of the director appeared this Monday (7).

This is because the communicator Júlio Miguel Neto showed dialogues with the football director, on topics related to the possible dismissal and what caused the withdrawal of the signing of the striker Michael Johnston.

BOTO'S LEAKED CONVERSATIONS

Regarding his departure, after a crisis behind the scenes at Flamengo , Boto wrote: “I am reflective, I am thinking ”. Although his dismissal is not being considered internally, the director may ask to be dismissed from the club, as stated by Júlio Miguel Neto.

Regarding Michael Johnston , Boto said that the “ real reason is that we found a better option and there would be no vacancy for a foreigner ”. The name, however, is kept confidential. Remembering that of the public negotiations, Flamengo has talks with Jorge Carrascal and Esequiel Barco.

JOSE BOTO'S FUTURE

Thus, the Flamengo director is still reflecting on whether or not he will remain in office, meetings between Boto and the other directors about the continuation of the work will take place. In this way, president Bap will have his first mission to try to contain the unexpected crisis.

Flamengo is experiencing instability behind the scenes. The football management led by Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, is facing criticism and questions, while the name of José Boto, hired at the beginning of the season as technical director, has been the center of recent tensions. In the midst of the storm, Marcos Braz, former vice president of football and an influential figure in the 2019 achievements, returned to the social media with a post that caused a stir among fans and behind the scenes at the club.

IS FLAMENGO HAVING A GOOD MOMENT?

The expression “ice in the blood”, immortalized by Braz during the magical year of 2019, has resurfaced. In a story published on his Instagram account, the former executive showed an image with the phrase, accompanied by an excerpt from the song “Deixe a Vida Rolar”, by singer Clovis Pê: “No problem, you’re welcome. Time tells everything. Do whatever you want. Without fear of the world.”

BRAZ IGNITES THE FANS ON SOCIAL MEDIA

The combination of the caption and the image did not go unnoticed by the fans, who saw it as a direct message to the current leadership of the red-black football team. Fans quickly reacted to the post. Many interpreted it as a veiled criticism of the way the football department has been run since Braz's departure. Others, however, recalled the poor results under his management in recent years, especially in 2023 and 2024, and treated the post as opportunism.

The target of the crisis is José Boto, a Portuguese who has played for clubs such as Shakhtar Donetsk and Benfica. Since taking over at Flamengo in early 2024, the Portuguese director has found it difficult to apply his work philosophy at Ninho do Urubu . Behind-the-scenes reports indicate a friction with president Bap, especially after the veto of the signing of Irish striker Mikey Johnston, who was recommended by Boto.

The situation has raised red alerts within the club and could culminate in the professional's eventual departure. Sources close to the football department indicate that a meeting between the parties should take place in the next few days to discuss José Boto's future. The relationship between him and Bap has deteriorated over the last few weeks, and the veto on Johnston was just the last straw.

The issue divided opinions among fans and rekindled criticism of the board's stance, especially regarding the commitment to professionalism promised by Bap . On the one hand, some fans understood that the retreat was sensible. The internal evaluation, as determined, considered the player's minutes history, the intensity required by the Brazilian calendar and the playing style of the current squad. These factors, combined, indicated a high risk for a signing that would require immediacy.

IMPASSE GOT UGLY FOR THE PRESIDENT

However, the most critical wing of the fans sees the withdrawal as a sign of weakness. In their view, the board gave in to external pressure, contradicting the discourse of professionalism and technical autonomy that was one of the pillars of Bap's election. Amid the impasse, an old interview Bap gave to Flow Sport Club, given during the presidential campaign, gained prominence again.

The excerpt, which went viral on social media, features the director talking about the importance of scouts and criticizing the excessive weight of popular opinion. The most commented and shared statement was direct: “But we think that, because we watch 500 hours of football, we see and know more than the guys. We don’t.” The phrase summarizes the board’s point of view on how decisions should be made — with data, analysis and criteria, not based on popular clamor.

BAP HAS HIS TALKS REJECTED BY THE FANS

During the interview, Bap explained in detail how the scouting department works, revealing processes that go far beyond simply observing matches. They involve cross-referencing data, analyzing physical and psychological behavior, and adapting to the team's playing style. Without naming names, Bap said that Flamengo was considering signing a player, but that the analysts found that the player could only maintain intensity for two 30-minute blocks. After that period, he became slow and vulnerable — something that would make him unusable in high-demand games.

Although the president did not directly link this case to Mikey Johnston 's name, the explanation is interpreted by many as a well-founded justification for the recent decision. The club analyzed, considered and concluded that the signing did not fit the necessary profile. The director also highlighted the technological evolution in football, with software that compares performances and projects scenarios. For Bap, this allows the scout to see more than what the eyes capture in real life — and, therefore, they must have autonomy.