Chief outlines plan for Vini Jr and Paquetá successors at Flamengo | OneFootball

Alfredo de Almeida reflected on developing new football talents during a Flamengo Academy workshop

During the mid-season break, Flamengo is taking advantage of the open schedule to integrate young prospects into the first team squad. Alfredo Almeida, youth director, highlighted the importance of ensuring the emergence of talents at the level of Vini Jr and Lucas Paquetá, focusing on establishing these players in the elite team.

The executive stressed that the success of the academy depends on delivering players who are ready for the demands of professional football. Preparation must go beyond simply giving them a debut opportunity, aiming for the stability needed at the highest level.

— Not just getting to the top, but establishing yourself there. Our responsibility is to prepare the athlete, because many times the opportunity does come, but afterward it is not aligned with the preparation the athlete had. It is our responsibility to produce more Vinícius Júniors, more Paquetás, players we know were ready for the opportunity — he said, before continuing:

— We want more, and we have this responsibility to prepare them to cement themselves at the top and then, whether it leads to a major transfer or titles in professional football, let it all happen together, but they have to be ready — the executive stated.

HOW DOES THE INTEGRATION WITH THE FIRST TEAM WORK?

The break for the World Cup has changed the day-to-day routine at Ninho do Urubu. As a result, Flamengo will use the time to observe and give playing time to prospects alongside the group led by Leonardo Jardim, expanding options for the team’s upcoming commitments this season.

The transition strategy takes place through constant monitoring between departments. According to Alfredo de Almeida, the alignment between the coaching staffs speeds up the players’ development.

— There was planning, discussion and alignment between the academy and the professional team regarding the players who will be part of the mid-season break, based on Leonardo Jardim’s needs. The most important thing is that they are prepared for these days, these moments and these minutes they may get in training or in longer use — he revealed.

— We talk and we are aligned; we know here what the professional team currently has and what the academy has. I have no doubt at all that our professional team coach is extremely prepared and used to working with the academy, with young players, and with what is needed for them to establish themselves. More than just being aligned, Jardim often also helps in the process of developing academy players, and that is fundamental — he said.

WHAT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FLAMENGO’S ACADEMY?

The discussion about development also included Ryan Roberto’s move to Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR). That is because, after months of negotiations and time away from the under-20 squad, the forward signed with the Ukrainian club for a fixed 9.5 million euros (R$ 56.31 million at the current exchange rate), plus performance bonuses, ending a contract that would have run until March 2027.

— For us to achieve our goals, it takes two sides willing it, the club’s will and the player’s will. Everything the club could do was done. Flamengo presented, structured, but then the player’s willingness also has to be there, and that is something we can no longer control. That was the specific case with Ryan Roberto — he said.

Academy director Alfredo de Almeida’s reflections closed the Flamengo Academy workshop, which focused on discussing the culture, processes and methodologies adopted. In short, the initiative reinforced non-negotiable points for the technical success of the prospects developed by the Rubro-Negro club.

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