Flamengo must rethink plans with new foreign-player rule; here's why | OneFootball

Flamengo will have to adjust its squad planning after the approval of the gradual reduction in the foreign-player limit in the Brazilian Championship. The club opposed the proposal, but it will now need to manage a group that includes ten players born outside Brazil.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that Flamengo is already internally working with the possibility of changes to the squad to adapt to the new scenario. The board has placed the foreign players’ contracts under review and is considering negotiations in the coming transfer windows.

This assessment will also be taken into account in the search for reinforcements for next year. Starting in 2027, eight foreign players may be included in the squad list for each match. The number will drop to seven in 2028, six in 2029, and five in 2030.

Jorginho is not included in that count because he holds Brazilian nationality. The change will also affect Flamengo’s planning, as the club will need to assess contracts, possible departures, and the profile of future signings in light of the gradual reduction in the foreign-player limit.

Contracts will be reviewed at Flamengo

Of the ten foreign players in the rubro-negro squad, Joaquín Freitas and Anthony Valencia have the longest deals, running until August 2031. Erick Pulgar also has a lengthy contract, until December 2029.

Other deals, however, expire earlier. Agustín Rossi and Guillermo Varela are tied to the club until the end of 2027. Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Nicolás De La Cruz have contracts until 2028, while Gonzalo Plata and Jorge Carrascal are set to remain at the club until 2029.

The Argentine goalkeeper’s situation also involves another factor. Agustín Rossi has already begun the process of obtaining Brazilian citizenship, which could change his status if the procedure is completed by the start of 2027.

Departures could open space in the squad

The first adjustment could already happen in 2027. With ten foreign players in the group and eight spots available per match, Flamengo will need to leave two players out of the squad list whenever everyone is available.

Because of this, some negotiations could gain momentum. Nicolás De La Cruz, Saúl Ñíguez, and Gonzalo Plata are among the names who could be involved in future moves, although any departure will depend on offers and the evaluation of the football department.

Gonzalo Plata was close to leaving in the last window, but Dynamo Moscow backed out after the medical examinations. Saúl Ñíguez, unhappy with the playing time he has received, may also consider an exit in the next transfer window.

A possible transfer of highly valued players, such as Jorge Carrascal, who has a market in Eastern Europe, could also ease the squad makeup and create room for a new international signing.

Planning will have to take the new rules into account

The issue will become more complex in the coming years, especially when the limit drops to six and then five players. The board will have to evaluate renewals with that horizon in mind, particularly in the cases of more experienced players.

Giorgian De Arrascaeta is under contract until December 2028 and will turn 34 by the end of the deal. Erick Pulgar, meanwhile, renewed until 2029, when he will be 35. Decisions regarding these players will also be shaped by the club’s medium-term sporting planning.

Flamengo voted against the reduction, but it will have to work within the approved scenario. From now on, every foreign signing will require a broader analysis of performance, contract length, and available space in the squad.

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