Boto speaks out on Gonzalo Plata’s situation and downplays controversial statements from Bap.
The saga involving forward Gonzalo Plata‘s potential departure from Flamengo to Dynamo Moscow (RUS) has taken new turns. After the player failed his medical exams in Russia and returned to the Rio club, Flamengo’s football director, José Boto, commented on the case, detailing the failed negotiation and downplaying controversial statements made by the club’s president, Bap.
The Sale That Didn’t Happen
According to Boto, Flamengo‘s intention was never to sell Plata, but rather to evaluate an opportunity presented by the player’s agents, which aimed for significant financial gain. He explained in an interview with ESPN:
We set conditions that they could meet, conditions advantageous to Flamengo. And perhaps, when the time came for the truth, they backed out of the signing.
The executive stated that he didn’t sense a strong desire from Plata to leave the club, but he understands the pursuit of better financial conditions in a career that is short. With the Ecuadorian’s return, Flamengo‘s plans haven’t undergone significant changes, although the signing of another player might have been accelerated had the sale materialized.
Bap’s Controversial Statement
One of the points that drew attention was a statement attributed to Flamengo president Bap, who reportedly celebrated the failed sale of Plata with a comment about the player’s nightlife. José Boto, however, sought to dismiss the controversy.
Boto said:
I don’t know if what came from the president, whether he said it or not, we know Plata is irreverent, it’s normal at that age. We have to find ways to work around that.
He added, comparing it to Europe:
In Europe, all clubs have internal regulations where players are fined if they are seen out after 11 p.m. That doesn’t exist here. We can’t fine based on those laws. It was a surprise to me. We have to find other ways to manage young people, we have to realize that people make judgments, they forget they were young too, with money and fame. And then, you have to know how to manage them.
the director mused.
Medical Failure and Suspicion
Dynamo Moscow‘s official version for Plata‘s failure was patellar tendinopathy. However, Flamengo maintains that the player did not report any pain or injuries before traveling to Russia. This discrepancy in medical reports generates suspicion within the Flamengo board.
Had the negotiation been completed, Flamengo would have received 12 million euros in cash, approximately R$ 72 million. With the Russian club’s withdrawal, the Rio club did not obtain this revenue.
New Reinforcement and Next Challenge
With Gonzalo Plata‘s return, coach Leonardo Jardim gains another option for the attack. Flamengo had also signed Anthony Valencia to cover a potential absence of the Ecuadorian.
The Rio team returns to the field this Thursday (10) to face Independiente Del Valle (EQU) at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Estádio Olímpico Atahualpa, in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores quarterfinals. The match will be broadcast by ESPN and Disney+.
