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Flamengo released its 2024 Annual Financial Statements Report on Monday (31), presenting details about the club's finances and guidelines for the future. The 80-page document highlights challenges and strategies for 2025, but one point caught attention: the lack of mention of its own stadium, while the management of Maracanã appears as a priority.

The report classifies 2024 as a year of " significant transformations ", driven mainly by Libra's contract with Globo for the rights to the Brasileirão. According to president Luiz Eduardo Baptista (BAP), Flamengo will fail to collect up to R$500 million in five years . In addition, the increase in spending in the second half of the year imposes financial challenges on the club.

Given this scenario, Rubro-Negro is betting on the management of Maracanã as one of the strategic pillars to strengthen its revenues in 2025.

FLAMENEGO BETS ON MARACANÃ AND STUDIES NAMING RIGHTS

The board of directors is planning to take a more active role in the stadium's management, with an operational improvement plan to enhance the fans' experience. Measures include improvements to services, access and common areas, as well as increasing matchday revenues — which include ticket sales, VIP boxes, food and beverage sales, and the fan membership program .

In the opening game of the Brasileirão, for example, Flamengo received less than 50% of the gross box office revenue. To reduce operating costs, the club is already discussing with the Rio de Janeiro government the possibility of selling the naming rights to Maracanã.

FAN MEMBERSHIP AND FLAMENGO TV AS NEW SOURCES OF REVENUE

The report also highlights new fundraising fronts, classified as "underexplored":

• Reformulation of the fan membership program , with a new value proposition to expand the member base;
• Launch of Flamengo TV , transforming the platform into a content channel with international broadcasts of home games in the Brasileirão.

FLAMENGO DEBUTS IN THE LIBERTADORES

One of Flamengo's biggest sources of revenue this season begins this Thursday, when Mengão faces Deportivo Táchira in Venezuela in its 2025 Libertadores debut. The Mais Querido is looking to become the first Brazilian to be four-time champion of the competition, which guarantees a large financial prize,

Textor will want to negotiate

Argentine midfielder Thiago Almada is back in the news in Brazilian football. A standout player in the 2024 season for Botafogo , the player, currently linked to Lyon, is attracting interest from his Rio de Janeiro rival. The possibility of a transfer gained momentum after Arrascaeta's injury, which has led the red-and-black board to analyze alternatives to reinforce the squad in the middle of the season.

According to information from journalist Guilherme Pinheiro, from Canal Flazoeiro , the French team is going through a turbulent time and is at risk of being relegated from the French Championship due to debts owed by businessman John Textor. If the club has more serious financial problems, Almada could be put on the market to avoid even greater losses.

"If Lyon is relegated, Textor will want to negotiate the player or return him to Botafogo. I think it will be very difficult for him to return, because that was not the agreement , " highlighted the journalist.

RUBRO-NEGRO SEEKS REINFORCEMENT FOR MIDFIELD AFTER ARRASCAETA'S INJURY

The search for a new midfielder has become a priority at Flamengo. In recent statements, Guilherme Pinheiro revealed that he considered Almada's name in a conversation with people linked to the red-black football department.

"Flamengo wants a player to share the position with 'Arrasca'. I was talking to people from Flamengo's football team and I said: 'Come here, what about Thiago Almada?'. And when I said the name... You know when you catch someone off guard and they get a fright?", he said on his YouTube channel.

FLAMENGO PREPARES FOR ITS DEBUT IN THE LIBERTADORES CUP WITH TOTAL FOCUS ON THE CHALLENGE

While the club evaluates possible reinforcements, on the field the team led by Filipe Luís remains focused on the debut in the Copa Libertadores da América 2025. The first match of the group stage will be this Thursday (3), when Flamengo will face Deportivo Táchira, in Venezuela. The match is scheduled for 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Pueblo Nuevo Stadium.

The first round of the Brazilian Championship ended last Monday (31), with a 2-2 draw between Bragantino and Ceará, at the Nabi Abi Chedid Stadium. Thus, the opening of the competition had five winning teams and five draws. Remembering that Flamengo drew 1-1 with Internacional.

CHECK THE CLASSIFICATION AT THE END OF THE 1ST ROUND OF THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

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In the match on Monday (31), Ceará seemed to feel at home and had total control of the match in the first minutes . At 12', Dieguinho gave a beautiful pass to Pedro Raul, who shot past goalkeeper Cleiton. Then, at 23', there was a move by two ex-Flamengo players.

Lucas Mugni took a corner kick into the box, and defender Marllon Borges, a product of Ninho, headed the ball into the net, giving the visiting team a two-goal lead. However, the northeastern team slowed down and saw Bragantino grow. Thus, the São Paulo team managed to score, with Nacho Laquitana, in the first half's injury time, and Erick Ramires, in the final moments of the second half.

FOCUS ON THE NEXT ROUND

The second round of the Brasileirão takes place next weekend. Thus, Flamengo will face Vitória, at Barradão, at 6:30 pm, on Sunday (6) . Before that, Mais Querido will focus its attention on the match against Deportivo Táchira (VEN), for the Libertadores.