FLUMINENSE IDOL REGRETS LEAVING FLAMENGO EARLY IN HIS "BEST YEAR" OF HIS CAREER

Flamengo and Fluminense finalized the procedures and signed, this Friday, the Maracanã concession contract with the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro. The duo won the bid to operate and explore the stadium for 20 years.

The concession signing ceremony took place this Friday morning, at Maracanã, with the presence of Rodolfo Landim (president of Flamengo) and Mário Bittencourt (president of Fluminense), shortly after the clubs' elimination in the quarter-finals of the Libertadores.

“This It's a very important day for Fluminense and, certainly, for Flamengo. I come to say that we are very happy to be able to have Maracanã for the next 20 years, alongside our sister club, alongside a club that is our opponent on the field, but which in the last five years has become a great partner outside of it. We have a very good, very cool relationship with a lot of respect and friendship and we successfully managed to win this concession. We respect all processes, whether legal or administrative, and we are very happy” stated the president of Fluminense and Landim added:

“As Mário said, it is a day of great joy. I think it is the culmination of an effort that has been underway for five years. I remember that when we assumed the presidency of Flamengo, we went to the State Government because we needed Maracanã. Maracanã had a series of problems at that time, including maintenance. And this is Maracanã, the symbol of football in the world. Our idea was accepted in April 2019, and Flamengo and Fluminense began managing Maracanã. It was a very long learning process and a partnership with Fluminense, which I would say is practically perfect. We are great opponents on the field, but here at Maracanã we are great partners", concluded the Flamengo.

In addition to the presidents, Cláudio Castro (governor of Rio), Nicola Miccione (secretary of the Civil House), Julio Lopes (federal deputy), Rafael Picciani (secretary of Sports and Leisure), Coronel Menezes (secretary) were present at the event. of State of the Military Police), Maria Cristina Teixeira (financial director of the concessionaire) and Severiano Braga (CEO of Maracanã).

When asked about the interest of Flamengo in building its own stadium in the Gasometer region, Cláudio Castro expressed confidence that Rubro-Negro will complete 20 years of management of Maracanã.

“ There is a contract to fulfill. Once the contract is fulfilled, I cannot now think that in some time there will be non-compliance. This is not the manager's role, this is not the role of whoever is here. Flamengo has a contract, signed a contract and will fulfill the contract until the last day. I don't have the slightest doubt. No one signs the contract to break it. If Flamengo had the responsibility to sign, it is because they will fulfill the contract until the next day. So far, in five years, everything that Flamengo and Fluminense signed has been fulfilled 100%. I have no reason to suspect that this will not be fulfilled”, stated the governor of Rio.

Earlier this month, the clubs registered the Specific Purpose Society (SPE) of the Fla-Flu Consortium, called Fla-Flu Serviços S.A, at the Commercial Board of the State of Rio de Janeiro, with responsibility for managing the entire Maracanã Complex, which includes the stadium, gym, parking lots and other equipment.

Since April 2019 , Flamengo and Fluminense have shared management of Maracanã through a Term of Permission of Use, which is valid until the end 2024. The economic division of the company between the partners is 65% for Flamengo and 35% for Fluminense.

This implies that revenues, profits, losses and other obligations will be distributed according to this proportion, although each club manages the results of its own matches as home team. The concession contract provides for significant investments, in accordance with the specifications assumed by the clubs. Of the total of R$ 393 million to be invested in works and maintenance over the next 20 years, R$ 255.5 million will go to the red-blacks and R$ 137.5 million to the tricolors.