Flamengo returns this Tuesday targeting Estudiantes in the Libertadores

Flamengo's technical director, José Boto, addressed various topics from the season in a recent interview . Among them was the departure of Gerson, who was transferred to Zenit (RUS) for €25 million. The director explained how the transfer directly impacted the Flamengo market and negotiations for reinforcements.

José Boto on Gerson's departure from Flamengo: "I always had the feeling that Gerson aspired to a higher salary"

GERSON'S DEPARTURE CHANGED THE NEGOTIATION SCENARIO

According to Boto, after Gerson's sale, the clubs negotiating with Flamengo began demanding tougher terms, such as larger upfront payments and fewer installments. The board, however, maintained its stance.

"There was an additional issue that made negotiations take longer: the sale of Gerson . When clubs know we're receiving €25 million upfront, they start wanting us to pay upfront or with smaller installments . We never wanted to get into that, because it would send a bad signal to the market," Boto told UOL.

This stance meant that the signings took longer to be confirmed, generating criticism from fans and the press . The manager acknowledged his discomfort with the "noise" surrounding the issue due to statements made before the window opened.

"Perhaps I was to blame for this because I said in an interview that negotiations were already underway and we expected to bring in players early. It created unnecessary fuss, and it seemed like everything was wrong . Then, when the players arrived at the right time, without paying more than we should have, the window became one of the best in history."

THE BIGGEST WINDOW IN FLAMENGO'S HISTORY

Despite the initial turbulence, the club closed the biggest transfer window in its history, with R$277 million invested in Samuel Lino, Emerson Royal, Jorge Carrascal and Saúl Ñíguez — the latter signed without transfer fees.

BOTO ABOUT GERSON'S DECISION

Commenting on Gerson's departure, Boto treated the player's choice matter-of-factly. According to him, there was never a €29 million offer, as was previously reported . The real offer was a fixed €18 million, with unrealistic bonuses.

"I always had the feeling that Gerson aspired to a higher salary, which is natural. It was agreed that he would only leave if they paid him upfront, and that's what happened . It's perfectly normal in football," the director explained. The departure, however, didn't sit well with the fans, who felt the decision diminished the idolization of Gerson, one of the leaders of the red-and-black squad in recent years.

Flamengo's football director, José Boto, said on Monday (15) that Brazilian football is not yet prepared to deal with the signing of little-known players . The director used as an example the case of striker Viktor Gyökeres, bought by Sporting (POR) when he was still playing in the English second division and later sold for 70 million euros.

José Boto uses Gyökeres as an example for signings at Flamengo: "this would be impossible"

"Sporting sold Gyökeres this year for €70 million. If I wanted to bring him to Flamengo , no one would say anything. But when Sporting paid €20 million for him in the English second division, that would have been impossible given the reaction I saw to a €5 million signing . We have to be smart enough to adapt to cultural differences and fan bases," Boto explained in an interview with UOL.

The director then reinforced the need for balance in the Rubro-Negro's negotiations: "At a club like Flamengo , with its size, it's necessary to create a mixed market. Players with impressive names and others who, even without much immediate impact, will add technical value and can still generate sporting or financial returns in the future."

THE MIKEY JOHNSTON CASE

Flamengo had agreed to sign striker Michael Johnston from West Bromwich Albion (ENG) for £5 million (approximately R$37 million). The player had already purchased a ticket to Rio de Janeiro, but the deal was canceled.

The club's official version was that the player had physical problems, but intense pressure from the fans played a decisive role. The negative repercussions led the board to definitively end negotiations with Johnston and West Bromwich.

WHO ARRIVED AT THE PLACE?

Without Johnston, Flamengo bolstered its squad with more high-profile names. In the same window, Samuel Lino, Jorge Carrascal, Saúl Ñíguez, and Emerson Royal were announced , in addition to other reinforcements signed earlier in the year.

Despite his short career as a professional coach, Filipe Luís continues to attract attention from around the world for his work at Flamengo. Last week, Fenerbahçe (TUR) attempted to sign him , but both the Rio de Janeiro club and the manager rejected the offer .

José Boto on Fenerbahçe's proposal for Flamengo's Filipe Luís: "this is not a bank"

In an interview with UOL, football director José Boto revealed the behind-the-scenes story behind the Turkish move: "Last week, he had the option of leaving the club. I know this because the president of Fenerbahçe called me asking how much money Flamengo wanted to release Filipe Luís . I replied that this isn't a bank. We had no intention of selling him. The club even offered more than the contractual fine, but he didn't want to go. He didn't want to abandon this project."

FENERBAHÇE CONTINUES ON ITS PATH AND ANNOUNCES ANOTHER COACH

With negotiations unsuccessful, Fenerbahçe looked at other options. After José Mourinho's departure on August 29, the Turkish club explored several options, including Filipe Luís , but ultimately agreed on Domenico Tedesco last week . Thus, the red-and-black fans can breathe a sigh of relief at the prospect of a new European push.

FILIPE LUÍS'S CAREER AS A COACH

Filipe Luís is about to complete a year in charge of Flamengo . The coach took over the team on September 30, 2024, after Tite's dismissal, and has since collected titles: Copa do Brasil, Campeonato Carioca, and Supercopa do Brasil . The coach has played 65 games, with 43 wins, 16 draws, and only six losses, consolidating one of the club's most consistent campaigns in recent years.

NEXT CHALLENGE IN THE LIBERTADORES

Flamengo, under the command of Filipe Luís, begins this Thursday (18) the dispute of the quarterfinals of the Libertadores against Estudiantes (ARG) . The match takes place at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, with broadcast by ESPN (closed TV) and Disney+ (streaming).