Leonardo Jardim blocks Flamengo academy gem's Brazil call-up | OneFootball

17-year-old center-back Daniel Thuram was called up to the national team, but he is on Flamengo’s squad list traveling to Portugal

Flamengo is facing a deadlock involving one of the biggest prospects from its youth academy. Called up to represent the Brazil Under-17 national team in training sessions scheduled for early July, center-back Daniel Thuram is also part of coach Leonardo Jardim’s plans for the mid-season training camp that the Rubro-Negro will hold in Portugal.

Because of this, the Portuguese manager asked Flamengo’s board not to release the young defender to the national team. Leonardo Jardim’s intention is to keep Daniel Thuram with the first-team squad during the training period in Europe, which is seen as strategic for the rest of the season.

In addition, Daniel Thuram was confirmed on Flamengo’s squad list for the trip to Portugal, scheduled for next Sunday (28). The Rubro-Negro delegation will travel for the mid-season camp aiming to step up physical, technical, and tactical preparation before official competitions resume. The club will also play friendlies on the continent against River Plate (ARG), Lausanne-Sport (SUI), and Benfica (POR).

WHY DOES FLAMENGO NOT WANT TO RELEASE DANIEL THURAM?

With Danilo and Léo Pereira at the World Cup, Leonardo Jardim has few center-backs available in the squad. Because of that, the coach wants to observe Thuram working daily with the senior group. It is worth remembering that the manager promised he would pay more attention to the youth academy during this period of the year.

Even with Flamengo’s request, reported by journalist Venê Casagrande, the Brazil Under-17 national team coach called up Daniel Thuram for the first time. In the list released last Thursday (25), the Flamengo defender’s name appears among coach Carlos Eduardo Patetuci’s selections.

WHAT IS THE SITUATION WITH THE CALL-UP?

According to the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) schedule, the called-up players report to Granja Comary on July 5 and remain there until the 12th of the same month. Flamengo, however, will be in Portugal from June 28 to July 12.

The Brazil Under-17 national team is preparing for the category’s World Cup, which takes place in November this year in Qatar. Besides Thuram, another Flamengo player appears on the squad list for the training sessions: midfielder Raimundo Ykaro.

WHO IS DANIEL THURAM?

Even at 17 years old, Daniel Thuram is a frequent presence in Flamengo’s Under-20 team. Born on March 31, 2009, the youngster draws attention for his height—1.87 meters—and his serious style as a center-back. Three months ago, the player renewed his contract with Mengão until 2028.

In addition, the club inserted a release clause of 50 million euros (nearly R$300 million). In 2026, Thuram made his first-team debut, playing a few minutes in the Campeonato Carioca semifinal, in the 8-0 thrashing of Madureira, in a match that marked Filipe Luís’s farewell as the team’s head coach.

SO WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— It will be a great opportunity for Leonardo Jardim to observe Thuram up close. He is a very promising kid and, historically, the coach likes to ‘polish gems.’ As for the call-up, there will be no shortage of opportunities for this academy product to wear the yellow jersey — said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist at Coluna do Fla.

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