Flamengo’s foreign hunt: who takes the final spot? | OneFootball

Flamengo’s approach to foreign player recruitment remains under the spotlight following their move for Colombian midfielder Jorge Carrascal, but despite a packed squad, the club still has room to manoeuvre under the CBF’s current regulations, according to Globo.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) updated its rules last year, allowing up to nine foreign players to be named for each league match. With the imminent addition of Carrascal, Flamengo will have eight active overseas players: Agustín Rossi (Argentina), Erick Pulgar (Chile), Gonzalo Plata (Ecuador), and Uruguayans Matías Viña, Guillermo Varela, Nicolás de la Cruz, and Giorgian de Arrascaeta. The tally could appear to rise to nine with the inclusion of midfielder Jorginho, who, despite representing Italy internationally, is classified as Brazilian by the CBF due to dual citizenship and therefore does not count against the foreign player quota.

This distinction leaves Flamengo with one remaining spot for a non-Brazilian eligible for matchday squads. The club has made it clear their recruitment strategy will continue to focus internationally, although landing new targets isn’t straightforward. For example, Flamengo retain an interest in Argentine striker Taty Castellanos, currently with Lazio, but negotiations remain unlikely with the Italian side unwilling to sell.

Importantly, the CBF’s nine-player limit applies only to the matchday roster—not total squad registration. In practice, Flamengo could theoretically sign more than nine foreign players but only register nine for a particular game. With Pulgar sidelined for up to three months due to injury, a tenth foreigner could be added to the wider squad without breaching any rules, though managing so many overseas signings remains unlikely given game-time and integration considerations.

Alongside Carrascal, Flamengo continue to monitor targets for the centre-forward and left-wing positions. The club are prepared to assess the right-back market as well if a sale—such as that of Wesley—materialises in the current window. Such flexibility reflects the modern recruitment reality: balancing squad depth, tactical options, and regulatory requirements.

As Flamengo look to maintain their ambitions on several fronts, integrating Carrascal will be watched closely, while the club’s handling of foreign player regulations continues to inform its ongoing transfer policy.

(Source: Globo)