Bap adopts a conservative tone in Flamengo‘s transfer market dealings, ruling out desperation for signings and admitting that the high investment in Paquetá requires financial caution for the remainder of the season.
The Rubro-Negro fanbase is anticipating new additions to the squad, but Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, has cooled expectations. In a recent interview, the director emphasized that the club does not intend to make astronomical investments before the official opening of the transfer window on July 22.
According to the president, the current market is suffering from artificial inflation caused by the FIFA calendar and the World Cup itself. Bap stated that caution is the watchword at Ninho do Urubu, especially after the significant financial effort made at the beginning of the year.
The weight of the Paquetá investment
The primary point of attention in Flamengo’s cash flow is the signing of Paquetá. The investment, which reached R$ 315.7 million including taxes and commissions, continues to directly impact the budget.
“You know when you eat a very large piece of meat that takes a longer time to digest? Maybe Flamengo needs a little more time to digest it,”Bap stated, illustrating the club’s financial situation.
The director assured that despite the careful management of finances, the club is not under pressure to sell players, although smart negotiations are always welcome to maintain the financial health of “O Mais Querido” (The Most Beloved).
Interest in Danilo and focus on the market
Regarding the interest in Danilo, a midfielder for Botafogo, Bap was direct: he acknowledged the player’s quality but denied any ease in negotiations. The president even joked about the situation, mentioning the expectation for a different scenario after the World Cup concludes.
“Botafogo’s Danilo, I would say he’s a great player, he’s a great pair of pants. I don’t know if he’s necessarily the model we need most right now. Let’s wait for the clearance sales, the big end-of-Cup sale,” the director declared.
As for future moves, the club is monitoring the market but avoiding “crazy” decisions. Inquiries, such as Aston Villa‘s interest in full-back Emerson Royal, are treated naturally, but the club is focused on retaining its current squad and utilizing academy talents like Daniel Sales to bolster the group managed by the technical staff. The focus now is on continuing the work for upcoming challenges, maintaining fiscal responsibility without losing sight of the pursuit of titles.
