Flamengo has opted to keep center-back João Victor in their squad, turning down a lucrative offer from Italian club Parma as they believe the player’s market value is set to rise.
Flamengo’s board remains committed to its policy of valuing its youth academy stars. The club has officially declined a proposal from Italy’s Parma for the young defender João Victor.
The package offered by the Italian side reached approximately 12 million euros (around R$ 72 million at current exchange rates), which included performance-based incentives and allowed Flamengo to retain 10% of the player’s economic rights.
This refusal by the Rio de Janeiro club is not an isolated incident. The name of the 19-year-old João Victor has been circulating frequently behind the scenes in European football.
The decision to keep the defender at Ninho do Urubu reflects the club’s strategic planning, as they view him as an asset with the potential to fetch a much higher transfer fee after establishing himself in the professional ranks and youth international squads.
Market protection and previous bids
Parma’s interest did not catch the board by surprise. Flamengo had previously rejected offers from other major foreign clubs.
Ajax, from the Netherlands, attempted to sign him for 8 million euros in late 2025, while the powerful City Football Group also saw a 10 million euro bid turned down by Flamengo officials.
The high demand for the defender is justified by his recent performances. With 14 appearances for the senior team, the youngster stood out during the pre-season in Portugal.
He displayed maturity and composure, characteristics that impressed the coaching staff and the club’s top brass, including president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap.
The promising future of the captain
The expectation is that João Victor will take over as captain of the Brazil national team at the 2027 South American U-20 Championship.
Flamengo believes that success in international youth competitions will be the final catalyst for a significant boost in the defender’s value on the global market.
As noted by the M360 team, the club’s stance is one of patience:
João is valued in the market, but he has the potential to grow even more. After all, next year we have the South American Championship, and if Brazil qualifies, the World Cup as well. By performing well as captain in these tournaments, his value could rise significantly.
With his future secured in Rio de Janeiro, João Victor’s focus now is on increasing his minutes under the coaching staff and continuing to be a key piece in the renovation process of the Flamengo squad.
The club’s stance indicates that, for now, the priority is sporting success before any potential negotiations for a move to European football take place.
Equipe M360
