Racing vs Flamengo: Massive squad value gap in Copa Libertadores | OneFootball

When night falls in Rio de Janeiro, Racing and Flamengo will face off in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores semifinals. Although an exciting and evenly matched game is expected, as Gustavo Costas knows better than anyone that on the field it's 11 against 11 (and he has already eliminated several Brazilian teams in a row), there is a vast difference between the two squads.

With an economic strategy on par with Europe's powerhouses, the Mengao is valued, according to the specialized platform Transfermarkt, at 195.9 million euros, a result of the exorbitant transfers they have been making over several transfer windows to strengthen and go for everything.

For an established player with a name in the Old Continent to pack their bags and return to these lands is an exception to the rule in Argentine football (Leandro Paredes, Ángel Di María, and Gonzalo Montiel, among other world champions) and a deep show of love. In Brazil, however, it is commonplace.

Not long ago, they signed Saúl Níguez and Samuel Lino (the most expensive of all, 22 million euros), both from Atlético de Madrid, and other figures like Jorginho and Emerson Royal, from Arsenal and Milan respectively. The podium of the best-valued players is completed by Pedro (20 million) and Giorgian De Arrascaeta (15 million).

With almost 120 million less, but with the mystique of being the last champion of the Copa Sudamericana and the Recopa, the Academia appears. Their squad is valued at around 77.2 million, much less than half of Flamengo's, and they have never been accustomed to making astronomical investments in transfer windows, neither with Víctor Blanco nor now with Diego Milito.

Among their ranks, however, several key players stand out who can continue to increase their value: Juan Nardoni (11 million), Santiago Sosa, and Marcos Di Césare (both 8). And leaders who demonstrate their true worth on the field, such as Adrián Maravilla Martínez (3 million).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.