New financial boost for Flamengo following Richard Ríos’ move to Saudi Arabian football.
Flamengo is once again reaping the financial rewards of a player developed in its youth academy. This time, midfielder Richard Ríos, currently playing for Benfica, has been loaned to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ittihad. The deal, which does not include a purchase option, secures a significant sum for the Rio-based club through FIFA‘s solidarity mechanism.
Multimillion-dollar loan yields profit for the Rubro-Negro
The Saudi club will pay 3 million euros (approximately 18 million BRL) for Richard Ríos‘ loan through the end of the 2026/27 season. In addition, Al-Ittihad will cover the 26-year-old player’s full salary, allowing Benfica to temporarily clear space on its payroll.
Thanks to FIFA‘s solidarity mechanism, which rewards clubs that contribute to a player’s development, Flamengo will receive 120,000 euros—about 712,600 BRL at the current exchange rate. This amount adds to other recent earnings from deals involving players developed at Ninho do Urubu, such as João Gomes‘ transfer to Aston Villa, which brought approximately 32.7 million BRL into the Rubro-Negro coffers.
Richard Ríos’ career path and the importance of the academy
Richard Ríos arrived at Ninho do Urubu in 2020 at the age of 20, working his way through the youth ranks before a brief stint with the professional team. In 2022, the player left the club for Guarani before being sold to Palmeiras in 2023. His strong performance in Brazilian football caught the attention of Benfica, who signed him.
The player’s move from Palmeiras to Benfica brought a significant payout to the São Paulo club, with percentages distributed among the clubs that developed him. Flamengo, holding 6.6% of his economic rights, had already benefited from the sale to Portugal and is now profiting again from his move to Saudi Arabia. This case reinforces the importance of the club’s youth academy as a source of future revenue.
Repercussions and Flamengo’s next steps
While Richard Ríos begins a new chapter in his career in the Middle East, Flamengo is turning its focus to the Brazilian Serie A. The team will take the field this Sunday to face Remo at Estádio do Mangueirão, in Belém. The match will be broadcast by Globo, GE TV, and Premiere.
The recent financial activity surrounding player transfers demonstrates the club’s ability to generate revenue even without the athletes on its current first-team roster. The management of the youth department and the development of talent remain essential pillars for the financial health of Mais Querido.
