Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro discussed the near-signing of Filipe Luís and explained why the former Flamengo coach ended up joining Monaco.
Filipe Luís’s post-Flamengo coaching journey continues to generate buzz in European football. This time, Bayer Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro himself revealed that the German club was very close to hiring the Flamengo icon for the head coach position, but the negotiations ultimately did not materialize.
Advanced Negotiations
In a recent statement, Fernando Carro spared no praise for the Brazilian professional and highlighted how close the deal was to completion. According to the executive, the club maintained constant conversations with the former defender.
“I believe we were very close to signing him because we met with him several times. We have an excellent relationship with Filipe Luís. Both Simon Rolfes, our sporting director, and I believe he is an excellent coach and still very young.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the disappointment of the deal not closing, the Leverkusen executive projected a bright future for the Brazilian in Europe and left the German club’s doors permanently open for a potential future pursuit.
“I think he will have a great career as a coach, with many years ahead of him. In the world of football, there are always other opportunities. We continue to have a good relationship with him, and I wish him the best in the project he has now.”
New Challenge at Monaco
After failing to reach an agreement with the German team, Filipe Luís officially joined Monaco (FRA), signing a contract until June 2028. The coach’s challenge is ambitious: to qualify the team for the UEFA Champions League and compete for prominence in French football, currently dominated by PSG.
The coach had a winning debut in a friendly match against Saint-Priest (FRA), winning 5-2. Monaco’s next commitment under Filipe Luís’s command is this Saturday (25th), at 3:30 PM (Brasília time), in an important test against Sporting (POR). Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen continued its strategy of seeking a young name and agreed with Carles Martínez, former Toulouse coach.
