Suárez to Flamengo? Ex-chief reveals why Mengão missed the Uruguayan

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·22 May 2026

Suárez to Flamengo? Ex-chief reveals why Mengão missed the Uruguayan

Flamengo vice president in 2006, Kleber Leite shared details about scouting Suárez

A legend of Uruguayan football, Luis Suárez almost wore the Flamengo shirt 20 years ago. The striker was recommended to Mengão, but the club’s scouts at the time were not impressed by ‘El Pistolero,’ who was taking his first steps at Nacional (URU). Flamengo’s vice president of football at the time, Kleber Leite, shared details of the situation.

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— This one is legendary. I have a dear friend in Uruguay named Atílio Garrido. In 2006, when I took over as vice president, Flamengo had no resources, so I called Atílio: “What do we have there, Atílio?” “There’s a player here who is very young, but wow, I’d bet everything on him. The player is with Nacional, Nacional is short on money, and they’re willing to negotiate 80% of the player’s economic rights for 500 thousand dollars.” Eduardo Uram was an agent who was around Flamengo a lot —, began Kleber Leite, in an interview with ‘Charla Podcast’.

— I said: “I have a proposal for you. There’s a player I got recommended from Uruguay. Buy the player, pay the 500 thousand dollars, the player signs a five-year contract with Flamengo: 40% for Flamengo, 40% for you, and 20% for Nacional.” He said: “Can I watch the player?” And I said: “Of course, you can.” He then sent Andrade and Ibson’s father there to scout the player. They stayed there observing Flamengo’s possible future player. After a while, he called me. “I’m not comfortable. Based on the scouting reports, I can’t buy the player.” The player was Luisito Suárez. He cost 500 thousand dollars; eight months later he was already worth 16 million dollars —, added the former director.

SO WHAT DID LUÍS SUÁREZ GO ON TO DO AFTER NACIONAL?

Luís Suárez did not impress Flamengo idol Andrade, nor Laís Silva (Ibson’s father), who were Flamengo scouts at the time. In fact, the former Mengão defensive midfielder said at the time that striker Fabiano Oliveira, a Flamengo prospect 20 years ago, had more potential than the Uruguayan.

Without an offer from Flamengo, Suárez moved to the Netherlands in the 2006/07 season. From there, the striker shined. He went on to play for Groningen (NED), Ajax (NED), Liverpool (ENG), Barcelona (ESP), Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Grêmio, and Inter Miami (USA), where he currently plays at the age of 39.

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