Who is behind the SAF bid? Meet the key figures | OneFootball

On Monday night, Fluminense revealed the details of the proposal for the acquisition of its future Sociedade Anônima do Futebol (SAF), presented by an investment fund managed by LZ Sports and led by businessman Carlos de Barros. This initiative foresees the participation of up to 40 high-net-worth individuals, all passionate Tricolor fans, in the investment capital. But after all, who are these personalities?

Some of the names were made public by the board during the presentation to the Deliberative Council. Ge investigated the background of each of these individuals and groups. It is important to note that the three pillars guiding the selection of these investors were: love for Fluminense, financial capacity to invest, and proven experience in business management.

Esteves Family This surname already resonates among Fluminense fans due to the well-known figure of André Esteves, banker and former CEO of BTG Pactual, a renowned investment bank. In 2025, Esteves was ranked as the sixth wealthiest Brazilian citizen, according to Forbes magazine, with an estimated fortune of US$ 6.9 billion (equivalent to R$ 37.41 million at the current exchange rate).

Almeida Braga Family Currently, the legacy of Antônio Carlos de Almeida Braga, who owned one of Brazil’s largest insurance companies, Atlântica Boavista (later integrated into Bradesco Seguros), is maintained by his wife and daughters. Braga was a prominent supporter of national sports, maintaining friendships with Ayrton Senna, closely following the driver’s final years, and also being close to Emerson Fittipaldi, Pelé, and Gustavo Kuerten. He was a benefactor of the Rio de Janeiro club.

Klabin Family This family manages the revenues generated by the business conglomerate it controls, the Klabin Group, founded by Maurício Freeman Klabin. Klabin is among the largest Brazilian companies in the pulp and paper sector, with a robust forest area dedicated to raw material production.

De Luca Family Owners of Frescatto, a company specializing in fish and seafood, the De Luca Family traces its origins to founder Carmelo De Luca, an Italian immigrant. Currently, the company is managed by the third generation, including Antonio De Luca and actor Bruno De Luca, who is a well-known Fluminense supporter. The brand is a market leader in its segment.

Heráclito Gomes Heráclito de Brito Gomes Junior is vice president of Rede D’or, one of the largest private hospital networks in the country. He has also served as CEO of the company and held leadership positions in other prominent corporations such as Golden Cross, Towers Perrin, Odontoprev, Fleury, Bradesco Seguros, and Qualicorp.

Zitelmann Family The most prominent name is José Zitelmann, co-founder of Absoluto Partners and member of the Executive Committee of BTG Pactual. He is recognized by Forbes as the manager of one of the most profitable equity funds on the current scene, being considered one of the emerging figures of the new generation of Brazilian managers.

Dantas Family The Dantas Family is mainly associated with Daniel Dantas, banker and fund manager. He achieved billionaire status by establishing the Opportunity Fund, a group that manages investment funds and acquired companies during the privatization process in the 1990s, such as Brasil Telecom.

Paes Family This family will be represented by Guilherme Paes, a Tricolor fan and brother of the current mayor of Rio de Janeiro, Eduardo Paes. Guilherme is one of the main partners at BTG Pactual, and Forbes estimates his fortune at approximately R$ 3 billion.

Ricardo Tadeu Ricardo Tadeu is the head of development at AB-InBev, the world’s largest beverage corporation. He leads the vice presidency responsible for strategic areas such as marketing, sales, B2B channels, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sales strategies.

Monteiro de Carvalho Family Descendants of businessman Olavo Monteiro de Carvalho, founder of the Monteiro Aranha Group, a holding company with stakes in companies such as Owens-Illinois do Brasil (packaging manufacturer), Klabin (pulp sector), and Ultrapar (operating in energy, logistics, and mobility).

Apex Partners This is an investment company established in Espírito Santo by Fernando Cinelli, with operations also extending to Paraná, Santa Catarina, São Paulo, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Hallack Family This family includes businessmen such as Vitor Hallack, former chairman of the board of construction company Camargo Corrêa and with a stint at Vale do Rio Doce, and his son, Marcelo Hallack, former BTG Pactual and partner at Bionexo.

Bruno Werneck The interested member is lawyer Bruno Werneck. He has become notable in the market for his expertise in advising domestic and foreign clients in the development of infrastructure, energy, and mining projects.

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