Flamengo speeds up naturalisation to dodge new CBF rule | OneFootball

Flamengo is working to reduce the impact of the CBF’s new rule on foreign players. The move gained momentum with the possibility of Guillermo Varela and Erick Pulgar starting the process of obtaining Brazilian citizenship.

RTI Esporte Agency has learned that the strategy is not limited to the two players. Agustín Rossi and Giorgian De Arrascaeta are also in the naturalization process. If all four complete the procedures, the club could reduce the number of foreign players in the squad from ten to six.

The change became more important after the governing body approved a gradual reduction in the limit of foreign players allowed on matchday squads in national competitions. There will be eight in 2027, seven in 2028, six in 2029, and five from 2030 onward.

Varela and Pulgar are the new development

Guillermo Varela joined Flamengo in 2022 after a spell at Dynamo Moscow. Since then, the right-back has become a regular option in the squad and reached the mark of 150 appearances for the club in 2026. His contract was renewed until December 2027.

Erick Pulgar also arrived at Ninho do Urubu in 2022, coming from Fiorentina. The Chilean earned his place over the years, made more than 170 appearances, and played a part in important titles won by the club. In 2026, he renewed his deal with Flamengo until the end of 2029.

Both have now been in Brazil for four years, which meets the minimum residency requirement for ordinary naturalization. However, that does not mean citizenship is granted automatically.

Naturalization requires other steps

Brazilian law sets out requirements for ordinary naturalization. In addition to the minimum residency period, the foreign national must prove legal capacity, knowledge of the Portuguese language, and the absence of a criminal conviction, in accordance with the process rules.

The procedure involves submitting documents, review of the information, and processing by the relevant authorities. The Federal Police takes part in preparing the case, while the decision on naturalization is made by the Ministry of Justice.

After approval, the granting is published in the Official Gazette of the Union. The total time is not necessarily the same in every case, since it depends on the documents submitted and the administrative processing.

Rossi and Arrascaeta are already on the path

Agustín Rossi and Giorgian De Arrascaeta’s situation is different because both had already started naturalization proceedings. The No. 10 has been in Brazil since 2015 and has played for Flamengo since January 2019.

The Uruguayan, who played for Cruzeiro before Flamengo, started the process to obtain Brazilian citizenship in 2023, but completion still depends on the administrative steps. Agustín Rossi joined Flamengo in 2023 and began the naturalization process in 2025.

The Argentine goalkeeper also needs to complete the requirements before he is no longer considered a foreign player for sporting purposes. The difference among the four cases, therefore, lies in the stage each process has reached.

Guillermo Varela and Erick Pulgar’s length of residence allows Flamengo to move forward with the paperwork with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security, which is responsible for the naturalization process. However, the time requirement alone does not guarantee Brazilian citizenship.

Flamengo seeks flexibility to build the squad

The strategy has a direct effect on sporting planning. Flamengo currently has ten foreign players. If Agustín Rossi, Giorgian De Arrascaeta, Guillermo Varela, and Erick Pulgar are naturalized, only six will remain in that category.

That would give the club significant room under the limit of eight players in 2027 and would also prevent the progressive reduction set by the CBF from forcing the board to make more abrupt changes to the squad in the coming years.

Naturalization has now come to be treated by Flamengo as a planning alternative. Guillermo Varela and Erick Pulgar have now emerged in this strategy, while Agustín Rossi and Giorgian De Arrascaeta are already moving forward in their processes to obtain Brazilian citizenship.

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