José Boto praises Samuel Lino and compares the styles of Filipe Luís and Leonardo Jardim.
Flamengo‘s director of football, José Boto, gave an exclusive interview to ESPN, where he addressed several topics relevant to the club, including the performance of forward Samuel Lino, the recent change in management, and recruitment strategies.
Amid preparations for the decisive CONMEBOL Libertadores clash against Independiente del Valle, Boto provided an overview of the present and future of the Rubro-Negro.
Comparison between Filipe Luís and Leonardo Jardim
The controversial replacement of Filipe Luís by Leonardo Jardim as Flamengo‘s head coach was one of the central points of the interview. Boto analyzed the styles of both managers, highlighting the particularities of each.
Filipe is an ‘author’ coach. He has his own style and is less willing to compromise… Leonardo is more of a chameleon; he manages to adapt better to the squad he has, rather than having rigid ideas that he refuses to budge on.
The executive explained that Jardim‘s flexibility can be an advantage at certain times, while the rigidity of Filipe Luís, although characteristic of some young managers with strong ideas, may require more time for the squad to adapt.
Market Strategy and the Future of Flamengo
José Boto also defended his work in the transfer market, responding to criticism that the club has been betting only on renowned and expensive players, distancing itself from the initial premise of seeking talent in alternative markets.
He pointed out that, at the beginning of his tenure, funds were limited and signings were focused on strengthening an already qualified squad.
When we arrived, there wasn’t a large budget available, and we only brought in Juninho and Danilo, largely because we trusted the squad that came from the previous management and felt they could get the job done.
However, Boto detailed the need for Flamengo to invest in young athletes with the potential for development and future appreciation, aiming for the club’s long-term sustainability.
It is a matter of bringing in a type of player that Flamengo currently lacks. Today, Flamengo doesn’t have many young players who can guarantee our future in two or three years, and we don’t have many assets for future sales…
Samuel Lino: A bet that is paying off
One of the recent investments that has drawn attention is forward Samuel Lino, signed from Atlético de Madrid.
After an initial adaptation period, the player has shown remarkable performance, culminating in his call-up to the Brazil national team.
Boto did not hold back in his praise for the athlete.
I think he is [the best player in Brazil right now]. At this moment, Lino possesses a set of characteristics that are difficult to find in any other player…
The director of football praised Lino‘s versatility, highlighting his speed, intelligence, defensive work rate, and, especially, his ability to find the back of the net.
He attributed part of the player’s evolution to the time taken to adapt to the country and the club, noting that the process of assimilating a new culture and working methodology requires patience.
The performance of Samuel Lino reinforces Flamengo‘s strategy of seeking athletes with the potential to become important assets, both on the pitch and financially.
M360 Team
