Shola highlights emotion with debut in Flamengo's professional team: "I'm very happy"

Flamengo has already made four signings official this transfer window , but the delay in negotiations has drawn criticism from some fans . During striker Samuel Lino's presentation, football director José Boto spoke out on the matter and apologized to the Flamengo Nation.

“Sometimes things take a little longer than the fans want, and I apologize to the fans, but we ( Flamengo 's board) have fixed ideas, and as long as it's possible to have the players we want , we'll go after it,” explained Boto.

HOW DOES FLAMENGO MOVE IN THE WINDOW?

Brazilian football's second transfer window opened on July 10th, and Flamengo began the period cautiously, monitoring the market and evaluating options. As the weeks progressed, the board accelerated negotiations and secured four key signings : Saúl Ñíguez, Emerson Royal, Samuel Lino, and Jorge Carrascal.

ARE MORE HIRES ON THE WAY?

Despite the names already confirmed, Flamengo remains attentive to the market. The club is in ongoing negotiations with Fiorentina, Italy, to sign striker Lucas Beltrán . Flamengo has already agreed on a fee with the Italian club, but still needs to convince the Argentine player to return to South America.

NEXT APPOINTMENT ON THE FIELD

While the board works behind the scenes, the squad led by Filipe Luís focuses on the challenges on the field. Flamengo's next match is this Sunday (3), against Ceará , at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Castelão, for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship.

Flamengo announced the early opening of ticket sales for the three games it will play at Maracanã in August, all valid for the Brazilian Championship. Starting next Monday (August 4), fan club members will have priority access to purchase tickets, with differentiated prices according to the Programa Nação plan.

Ticket sales will be staggered, respecting the hierarchy of plans, before being opened to the general public. Purchases must be made exclusively through ingressos.flamengo.com.br , the official channel for ticket sales for the Mais Querido's games.

GAMES WITH ADVANCED TICKETS

• Flamengo x Mirassol – 08/09 (Friday), at 6:30 pm
• Flamengo x Vitória – 25/08 (Sunday), at 9 pm
• Flamengo x Grêmio – 31/08 (Saturday), at 4 pm

PURCHASE PRIORITY AND VALUES

Members of the Nation Without Borders plan will be able to purchase up to two tickets per match, as long as they haven't already used the benefit this season. The window for this plan opens at 10 a.m. on August 4th. Prices follow the general public price list . Access to other plans will be progressively enhanced according to the club's schedule, before being released to fans without membership on dates to be announced later.

PREMIUM EXPERIENCE: FLA+ SPACE

Fans seeking a unique experience can opt for the Fla+ Space , which offers an exclusive environment in the Lower East and West sectors, with a full buffet and free draft beer before kickoff. The additional cost is R$200 per ticket.

CÉLIO DE BARROS PARKING LOT

Members who purchase tickets for the Maracanã Mais and Oeste Inferior sectors can secure a spot in the Célio de Barros Parking Lot , next to the stadium. The cost is R$180 and must be purchased with the ticket, subject to availability.

• Entrance: via Rua Paula Souza, with proof of payment checked, proceeding to gate 11B
• Exit – West Zone: via Eurico Rabelo Street to Vinte e Oito de Setembro Street
• Exit – South Zone: via Rua Manoel de Abreu, following Av. Rei Pelé towards the Center

Pablo Marí's time at Flamengo was short, but extremely impactful —both on the field and in the club's finances. Even more than five years after his departure, the Spanish defender still generates revenue for the club .

According to Flamengo 's most recent financial statement, the club still owes approximately R$4 million for the defender's permanent transfer to Monza in Italy. This amount is part of one of the most lucrative deals in Gávea's recent history.

FROM BETTING TO THE CHAMPION PILLAR

Signed in 2019 from Grupo City for approximately R$5.5 million, Pablo Marí arrived as a gambler and quickly became a regular starter for Jorge Jesus' team. With his technical prowess, leadership, and defensive confidence, he was a key player in the team's Brasileirão and Libertadores victories that year . In 30 appearances for the Manto Sagrado, he scored three goals and left the club on a high note.

SALE TO ARSENAL AND PROFIT MULTIPLIED

His performance at Flamengo caught the attention of European football, and the defender was traded to Arsenal-ING in 2020 for €14 million . From there, he was loaned to Italian clubs like Udinese and Monza, until being bought outright by the Monza club in 2023.

Since Flamengo retained 40% of the player's economic rights, it received R$14.6 million from the sale . However, a portion of €680,000 (approximately R$4.35 million) is still outstanding and should bolster the club's cash flow in the coming months.

PRESENT IN FIORENTINA AND IN GOOD PHASE

In early 2025, Marí was traded again—this time to Fiorentina, at the direct request of coach Raffaele Palladino, who knew him well from Monza. With a contract until June 2026, the 31-year-old defender is a regular starter for the Florence team . On social media, Flamengo fans praised the board's decision to sign the defender, which continues to yield financial rewards even years after his departure.