ZENIT COACH TALKS ABOUT CLAUDINHO’S NEGOTIATION WITH FLAMENGO

Flamengo has kept Jorge Jesus as a frequent target since the historic 2019 season. However, bringing him back, currently at Al-Hilal, would not be an easy task, especially due to the coach's high salary, which is among the highest paid in the world.

According to information from journalist Jorge Nicola, the termination fine to remove "Mister" from the Arab club is 40 million reais. Furthermore, it would be necessary to negotiate a new salary, as Jesus currently earns around 70 million reais per year, tax-free, which is equivalent to more than 6 million reais per month. The Portuguese's name resurfaced at Flamengo by candidates for election at the club.

If Flamengo or any other Brazilian club managed to sign him, Jesus would become the highest paid football coach on the continent, surpassing Abel Ferreira, coach from Palmeiras, who receives around 3 million reais per month.

With Tite's situation uncertain to lead Flamengo in 2025, Jorge Jesus' name begins to be mentioned behind the scenes. However, the Brazilian team could also enter the dispute for the coach. Despite the recent arrival of Dorival Júnior at the helm of the national team, there is suspicion within the CBF about the continuity of his work.

Therefore, Jorge Jesus becomes a coveted target for both Flamengo and the Brazilian team, both of whom are aware that they will have to make a considerable investment if they want to rely on the technician.

Since the beginning of the year, competing in all possible competitions, Flamengo has faced a series of problems in the final stretch of the season due to wear and tear. Injuries and the need to save players have caused headaches for Tite, a situation that, according to André Rizek, should not happen.

For the journalist, Flamengo has a squad deep enough to rotate the team. He believes that Tite could have rotated more throughout the season to, at this point, have more players in ideal physical condition. Rizek cited the game against Grêmio as an example, where Mengão, even with a completely modified team, played good football despite the defeat.

“Flamengo has reached a point in the season where the team is so hurt , so tired... It's clear. You see Flamengo play, the team is dead. I would have done the same (save against Grêmio). Yesterday's game (Sunday, 22nd) is a sign that Flamengo could have rotated the squad a little more during the season. Flamengo's C team had a good performance against Grêmio", said the commentator.

Even two-time champion in 2019 and 2020, André Rizek criticized Flamengo for not fighting adequately for the Brasileirão in recent years. He argues that the team has a qualified and abundant squad to compete in both cups and the points championship, but has chosen to focus more on knockout competitions.

“Flamengo, with the squad that There is, it's a team to fight for the Brasileirão title every year and for four years, in this final stretch of the championship, it has been distant. In all these years, Flamengo has dealt with such a great sense of urgency in the cups that the Brazilian Championship is like this... it didn't work”, he assessed.

This season, Flamengo even led the Brasileirão for a few rounds, but stumbles, greatly influenced by the preservation and wear and tear of the players, ended up damaging Rubro-Negro's chances of remaining at the top of the table.

Born in Rio de Janeiro, created by Flamengo and with a resume full of titles in Brazilian football, midfielder Camacho granted an exclusive to Lance! and talked about the trajectory of his career. With glorious spells at Corinthians, Atheltico-PR, Botafogo and Santos, the midfielder recalled memorable moments.

Camacho arrived at Rubro-Negro at a very young age, at nine years old. For the Rio club, he spent his entire career at the youth level, playing futsal until making his professional debut in 2008. He was loaned to Paraná to gain experience, but was part of the star-studded Brazilian champion squad of 2009.

Despite very young, the player remembers the dressing room with some of the team's stars, and the importance of these players and the young players at the base.

– A very good experience. He had played for Flamengo since he was nine years old. I did my entire base there, I spent a lot of time at the club. In the first few years we already managed to become Brazilian champions with that team that made history. I didn't play much, I was moving up, so I was starting to understand what a professional is like. A lot of difference from the base. But for me it was really good, playing with so many stars, winning that title and being able to make history at Flamengo.

– Everyone had their own way of leading. There were a lot of guys with names already. Adriano was an idol. When he arrived in the locker room, the base people didn't really know what to do. He was very respected, and on the field there wasn't much to talk about. He and the Petkovics were the main players in that title. Pet was more into himself, more closed off. Léo Moura was more of a reviewer, Adriano too, he treated everyone at the base super well. It was a time when the team got along very well, which is why they managed to win the title.

After Flamengo, the player ended up being loaned to some clubs such as Paraná, Goiás, Bahia, until he arrived at Audax , when he reached the final of the Campeonato Paulista in 2026, against Corinthians. From then on, it was a turning point in Camacho's career.

– It was a very good period. A turning point in my life. I arrived at Corinthians at 26 years old, I was already a little older, so I was more prepared. I managed to have a good streak, I played several games, we managed to win some titles. I was Brazilian champion and two from São Paulo. It was the main club of my career. I have a lot to thank Corinthians for, because from then on my career began to flow.

In the midst of contracts at Timão, the player was loaned to Athletico-PR and experienced the club's best moment, winning a South American and a Brazilian Cup.

– I arrived in 2018 and it was already a very good team. We saw that it was going to work, so much so that we were South American champions. Then, Athletico asked for another year on loan and Corinthians gave in, and I started very well, with a good sequence of games.

After winning a Brasileirão, Sudamericana, two Campeonato Paulistas and Brazilian Cup. Camacho revealed which title marked him most in his career.

– The one that marked me most was the 2017 Brasileirão with Corinthians. It was what I played the most, I participated in almost all the games.

The good run under Tiago Nunes led to the midfielder returning to Corinthians, alongside the coach, and staying at the club for another two years. paulista, until being sold to Santos, in 2021.

At Alvinegro Praiano, Camacho stayed for three seasons. During the period, Santos experienced ups and downs. Despite the fight against relegation, in 2021 and 2022, the club remained alive and secure in the middle of the table. But he was unable to escape relegation in 2023.

After three seasons at Peixe, Camacho signed with Guarani to play in Série B this season. Bugre is currently bottom of the league and is fighting against relegation to the third division. The player spoke about changing coaches during the season.

– I arrived at the beginning of the year, and it was difficult. The team couldn't fit in. There were a lot of coach changes, at the state level there were two, by the time I was there there had already been five coaches, so the team couldn't achieve results. It's been a difficult year, but I hope that Guarani will be able to escape in this final stretch.

The midfielder ended his contract with Guarani in the middle of the year and reveals that he is preparing himself individually to return next season .

– I'm training for next year. Preparing myself on the outside, I hired a physical trainer to train every day. I don't think about retiring now. I have at least three or four more years to play.