Vasco player reveals not being afraid of Flamengo and points out: "We can reverse"

Leading the Brasileirão and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Copa Libertadores after eliminating Internacional, Flamengo's priority is strengthening its squad for the rest of the season. One of the board's main concerns is the European interest in Léo Ortiz , the starting defender and a Brazilian national team selection .

With the transfer window open, the defender is attracting interest from foreign clubs, but the board has made it clear that it will only consider a move if an offer is outside the norm . After the victory over Internacional at Beira-Rio, the number 3 spoke about his continued presence at the club.

Léo Ortiz on the future: "I see myself very much within Flamengo"

LÉO ORTIZ POSITIONS HIMSELF ON THE FUTURE

"I see myself very much at Flamengo . I'm very happy. I want to achieve many things here, many great things. Of course, I'm also happy that people are watching my work, that big clubs are watching my work. It's a sign that I've been doing a lot of good work. So, I'm very happy, I feel very much at Flamengo , very motivated to achieve great things.

The defender also emphasized that he doesn't let himself be swayed by market speculation: " Of course, the future belongs to God . I have people who look after my career and manage it very well, so that at no point is my mind clouded by these negotiations that happen in football," he concluded.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

Now, the Rubro-Negro's focus is the Brasileirão. Next Monday (25), at 9 pm, at Maracanã, the team faces Vitória, who is fighting against relegation . Mengão is the leader of the competition with 43 points, four more than Palmeiras, second place in the competition.

Targeted by Flamengo for part of the 2025 season , Noah Okafor already has a new destination. This Thursday (21), the 25-year-old Swiss striker was officially announced by Leeds United , champion of the last edition of the Championship and back in the Premier League.

Flamengo was considering signing a more mobile striker with different characteristics than Pedro , and Okafor was one of the names considered. However, Milan's request was considered high, which forced the Flamengo board to back down in the negotiations.

Noah Okafor, former Flamengo target: "I always dreamed of playing in the Premier League"

Leeds has already reached an agreement with the Italian side, shelling out €19 million (approximately R$121 million) to complete the purchase. The player signed a contract until June 2029: " The coach called me and said he wanted me . I felt confident, talked to my family, and realized I had to accept. I've always dreamed of playing in the Premier League, and it's a dream come true. I'm ready for this new challenge," Okafor declared after the announcement.

Interestingly, the striker faced Leeds shortly before the deal. During preseason, while still with Milan, he started a friendly against the English side in Ireland, which ended in a 1-1 draw . On that occasion, Okafor played the full 90 minutes.

FLAMENGO TRIED, BUT NEGOTIATIONS DID NOT PROGRESS

Flamengo sought alternatives to reduce Milan's asking price, but was unsuccessful. Meanwhile, other clubs emerged as interested, including John Textor's Botafogo , which considered investing heavily. However, negotiations only progressed with Leeds.

OKAFOR'S CAREER

A product of Basel in Switzerland, Okafor rose to prominence with Red Bull Salzburg, where he played 110 matches and scored 34 goals in four seasons. His performance earned him a transfer to Milan in 2023/24, but the striker failed to establish himself . After a low-key spell, including a loan spell at Napoli, where he played only four times, he is now seeking greater regularity in the Premier League.

Internacional president Alessandro Barcelos decided to discuss finances shortly after the team's elimination to Flamengo in the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores. Following the 2-0 loss at Beira-Rio Stadium, the director complained about the disparity in investment between the clubs in recent transfer windows.

Internacional President: "Flamengo invested R$277 million in this window compared to just R$27 million from Inter. That's 10 times more!"

"Some things would have been better if we had won, because they can't be used as excuses. But this debate needs to be deepened in Brazilian football . Flamengo invested R$277 million this window, compared to just R$27 million for Inter. That's ten times more! And, adding up the last four windows, they've reached R$600 million," Barcelos noted.

Despite the rhetoric, the president himself acknowledged that the issue doesn't justify Colorado's drop in performance: "This is new in Brazilian football, and we need to understand it better. The gap is becoming so wide that it's reflected on the field, in the quality of the squads . It's not an excuse, but an issue that needs to be addressed to maintain competitiveness," he added.

INTER HAS NOT YET PAID FOR THIAGO MAIA

The discrepancy in the accounts could be even greater. This is because Internacional hasn't even paid off the purchase of Thiago Maia, made at the beginning of last year. The Rio Grande do Sul club committed to paying €4 million (approximately R$24.1 million) , but Flamengo has yet to receive the payment. The charge has already been formalized with the CBF's CNRD.

The situation became even more controversial when Inter attempted to negotiate Thiago Maia with Santos for a higher fee , even though the transfer had not been paid off. Outraged, Flamengo blocked the transfer. Meanwhile, the Rio Grande do Sul club invested heavily in players like Carbonero and Alan Rodríguez, fueling criticism.

COLORADO CRYING AFTER NEW DEFEATS

In addition to the elimination, Internacional has a bitter history against Flamengo in 2025. They have suffered three consecutive defeats: 1-0 and 2-0 in the Libertadores and 3-1 in the Brasileirão. A 6-1 aggregate defeat for Internacional, which increases the pressure on Barcelos' management . Now, Inter must "pick up the pieces" and, who knows, find the resources to finally pay off the debt owed to Flamengo for Thiago Maia.