Bap targets Flamengo’s top title in 2029, dreams of a Real Madrid-like club | OneFootball

Qualified for the Club World Cup in 2029, Flamengo will fight for the title, according to Bap

Flamengo is in Doha, Qatar, for the Intercontinental Cup. However, the club's president, Luiz Eduardo Baptista, is already dreaming of the Club World Cup in 2029. The leader assured that Mengão will enter the tournament focused on the title and is preparing the Most Beloved to become the "Real Madrid of the Americas."

— Flamengo has to be in the top 15 clubs in the world. I imagine we have a few years to prepare for the 2029 World Cup. We must be prepared to be champions. We will work in that direction, to be in the top 15 in revenue worldwide, even being in Brazil, with revenue in reais —, said Bap.

— We have as resources players who come from abroad, whom we pay in strong currency. We are making a very strong investment in the youth academy, and we hope it will bear fruit in 2027, 2028. I see 2026 with optimism, dreaming big for 2029. Wait for us —, added the leader, to FlamengoTV.

SOUTH AMERICAN REAL MADRID?

With the recent dominance of Flamengo and Palmeiras in Brazilian football in recent years, some sports commentators often joke that the Brasileirão is turning into the Spanish Championship. In other words, only Real Madrid (ESP) and Barcelona (ESP) win the title. For Bap, Mengão has to become the team from the Spanish capital and be hegemonic on the continent.

— I see it as absolutely possible (to transform Flamengo into the Real Madrid of the Americas). Look at the situation Flamengo was in December 2012, what we did in 13 years. Let's freeze time, let's go back 12 years. If someone said: ‘look, Flamengo is a four-time Libertadores champion and nine-time Brazilian champion, earned R$ 2 billion, will make more than R$ 300 million in profit in the year’. How much would you bet on that? —, questioned Bap.

— It's what I always joke and say: let's dream big, aim for the moon. If we miss, we end up among the stars. So, we will become Real Madrid, yes. Because we are red and black and have this wonderful bipolarity. The red and black don't have this thing of limits. We will work very hard to make these dreams come true —, concluded the executive.

ONE WORLD CUP AT A TIME, HEIN, BAP?

While the 2029 Club World Cup is yet to come, Flamengo is eyeing the 2025 Intercontinental Cup. Thus, the red and black delegation arrived in Qatar this Sunday (07) and is preparing for the competition's debut, which will be on Wednesday (10), against Cruz Azul from Mexico.

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