Flamengo has officially dismissed a proposal from Peñarol for midfielder De La Cruz and is now internally evaluating the possibility of a contract termination to reduce the payroll.
The Flamengo board has put an end to speculation about De La Cruz‘s future. The Rio de Janeiro club promptly rejected the attempt by Peñarol, which sought to acquire the player on loan, covering only a portion of the Uruguayan player’s monthly wages.
The Uruguayan offer stipulated that Rubro-Negro would continue to cover 40% of the player’s salary, a model deemed unfeasible by the management. The firm stance of the Flamengo leadership reaffirms that the club does not intend to subsidize player departures to other clubs.
The club’s new strategy
The decision to block the loan has opened the door for a radical change behind the scenes. As reported by the M360 Team, Flamengo is now considering an amicable contract termination with De La Cruz, should the player himself express a desire to pursue a new career path.
The M360 Team highlighted:
The management will not accept business models that keep the club paying part of the salaries of loaned players, now seeking to optimize the budget for the season’s upcoming challenges.
Financial impact and future
The scenario of a possible termination brings significant figures to the Ninho do Urubu‘s coffers. The end of the contract, which extends until June 2028, would represent an estimated saving of between 6 and 7 million euros — around R$ 35 to R$ 41 million — in labor costs.
It is worth remembering that De La Cruz arrived at the club in January 2024, after the payment of a release clause of US$ 16 million to River Plate. The current wear and tear and the midfielder’s lack of prominence cast doubt on his future, forcing the Flamengo management to closely monitor the transfer window’s upcoming moves.
M360 Team
