Boto fears Argentine surge in Libertadores under CBF foreign-player limits | OneFootball

According to Coluna Do Fla, Flamengo director José Boto has warned that the CBF's cap on foreign players per Brasileirão match poses a concrete risk to Brazilian football.

He argued it will lower quality and competitiveness, adding that if Flamengo are worried, other clubs should be too.

The federation approved a phased reduction to create more chances for club-trained players, with only Flamengo, Bahia and Londrina voting against.

From 2028, teams may name only eight foreign players per game, decreasing annually to five by 2030.

Boto suggested that in a year or two, there could be three Argentine semi-finalists in the Libertadores instead of three Brazilian sides.

Before the vote, Spanish midfielder Saúl said selection should be based on performance, not nationality, warning it could hurt competitiveness.

Flamengo have 10 foreign players in the senior squad, namely Arrascaeta, Varela and De La Cruz of Uruguay, Chile's Pulgar, Spain's Saúl, Argentines Joaquín Freitas and Agustín Rossi, Ecuadorians Anthony Valencia and Gonzalo Plata, and Colombia's Carrascal.

The restriction applies only to matchday lists, not executives or coaching staff, so Boto's Portuguese nationality does not affect his role.

Flamengo visit Santos at Vila Belmiro on eight October at 19:30 Brasília time in the Brasileirão, then host Fluminense at the Maracanã on 11, a Sunday, at 17:30.

Source: Coluna Do Fla

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”