Gabriel Brazão explains choosing Santos after Flamengo interest | OneFootball

Santos played hardball to release Gabriel Brazão to Flamengo

Flamengo tried to sign Gabriel Brazão, Santos’ goalkeeper, at the end of the 2025 season. About nine months after the negotiations fell through, the player revealed that he received offers from Mengo, but decided to stay with the São Paulo-based team after talks with the board.

View this photo on InstagramA post shared by Gonze na Área (@gonzenaarea)

— There were several inquiries during the season, but together with the club, we chose for me to stay. And I’m very happy here, this is my home. So, at no point did I ask to leave or want to leave — he said, before adding:

— I always left it in the club’s hands and let the club make the best decision. I hope to build a very beautiful story here, win titles, and be remembered in a very positive way within the club — Brazão concluded, speaking to the YouTube channel ‘Gonze Neles’.

How did the talks between Flamengo and Santos over Brazão go?

Flamengo’s interest gained momentum during the squad-building period for 2026. Gabriel Brazão was seen by Flamengo’s board as an option for the position, especially with Matheus Cunha leaving, as he had a pre-contract with Cruzeiro.

Santos, however, played hardball to release the goalkeeper. At the time, the club considered the player an important piece and showed no interest in making a deal with Flamengo easier. Brazão’s release clause for domestic clubs was also seen as a major obstacle, standing at R$ 370 million.

What were Brazão’s numbers in 2025?

In the 2025 season, Gabriel Brazão was one of Santos’ standout players, helping the São Paulo side avoid relegation to the Brasileirão’s Serie B. During the year, the goalkeeper played 53 matches and conceded 67 goals.

Did Flamengo sign another goalkeeper?

Amid the failed negotiations for Brazão, Flamengo completed the signing of goalkeeper Andrew. In January 2026, Fla offered 1.5 million euros (approximately R$ 9.4 million), plus 10% of a future sale to Gil Vicente (POR), the player’s former club.

What is the article author’s opinion about Gabriel Brazão?

“Gabriel Brazão would be a great signing for Flamengo, but the amount Santos asked for was far too high. Besides that, the goalkeeper would need to accept arriving to compete for the spot, since Agustín Rossi is the undisputed starter in Flamengo’s goal. But it’s really hard for the São Paulo side to let the player go, since he is one of the team’s main names,” said Davi Esteves, journalist at Coluna do Fla.

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