Oscar reveals his frustration over a failed move to Flamengo in 2022, which was blocked by Shanghai Port, costing him the chance to win the Copa Libertadores.
The 2022 season was a glorious period for Flamengo, capped off by winning the Copa Libertadores and the Copa do Brasil. However, that historic campaign could have featured a star name: former Brazil national team midfielder Oscar. The player was one step away from wearing the iconic red and black jersey, but negotiations with his then-club, Shanghai Port (CHN), stalled, leaving behind an opportunity that still resonates with the athlete.
The barrier to his arrival stemmed from COVID-19 travel restrictions in China. During the height of the pandemic, the player’s family expressed a strong desire to return to Brazil. Oscar managed to secure a release to stay in his home country for six months, but authorization to play for Flamengo was denied by the Chinese club’s leadership, who feared that once he adapted to the Brazilian team, he would not want to return.
A Near-Deal
In a recent interview with the ‘Charla Podcast’, Oscar detailed how close he came to finalizing his move to Flamengo.
— It was very close (to signing with Flamengo) during the pandemic; it was quite severe in China. I wanted to come to Brazil because my family wanted to be there. We were all locked down there, and the club eventually allowed me to stay in Brazil for six months. I thought, ‘Staying here for six months doing nothing is tough.’ So, I started talking to Flamengo. It was Marcos Braz at the time, who is friends with my agent (Bertolucci). He said, ‘Oscar, just stay here and train with us. Spend six months with us’ —, the midfielder recalled.
Talks progressed to the point where Flamengo and Oscar reached a salary agreement. The plan was for the playmaker to bolster the squad for the second half of 2022, the period in which the Rio de Janeiro club would go on to win the two biggest titles of the season.
Chinese Refusal and Consequences
Despite mutual interest and the player’s desire, Shanghai Port vetoed the transfer.
— I passed this on to my club. It was a great time for Flamengo; they had a really solid team, and it would have been great for me. But my club said, ‘No, that’s not possible. What if you end up liking it there?’ I had three years left on my contract, so they preferred that I stay there doing nothing. I didn’t want to fight with them because I had a contract. But it almost worked out; I almost signed for six months, but it didn’t go through. I had friends there like David Luiz, Filipe Luís, and Dorival Júnior… They pushed for me to come. It’s a shame —, Oscar added.
The Chinese club’s refusal cost Oscar the chance to participate in Flamengo‘s triumphant 2022 campaign. The midfielder remained in China until 2024. The following year, he signed with São Paulo, his youth club, but his stint was brief. In April 2026, at age 35, Oscar announced his retirement from football due to heart complications.
The expectations among Flamengo fans at the time were sky-high. The arrival of Oscar—with his impressive stats in China, where in 2024 he recorded 16 goals and 29 assists in 39 matches—was seen as the ideal solution to finding a high-quality backup for Arrascaeta. The outcome, however, left a lasting ‘what if’ in history, and the player who scored for Brazil in the infamous 7-1 defeat against Germany was unable to make a mark in Brazilian football, hampered by injuries and the heart condition that led to his premature retirement.
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