Savarino is Fluminense’s 40th foreigner, boosts Venezuelan ranks | OneFootball

The signing of Jefferson Savarino is not just part of the season's reinforcements. It closes a historic cycle at Fluminense and reinforces a clear change in the squad's profile in recent years.

With the arrival of the Venezuelan attacking midfielder, the Tricolor reaches the mark of 40 foreign players used in the 21st century. Savarino also becomes the second Venezuelan to play for the club in this period and the third in its entire history, a number that helps to measure the evolution of international presence in Laranjeiras.

From Maldonado to Savarino: three Venezuelans, three contexts

Fluminense's relationship with Venezuelan football began in 1992, with Carlos Maldonado. Naturalized Venezuelan, the midfielder arrived after standing out for the national team in the 1989 Copa América, held in Brazil. It was a rare signing for the time.

Maldonado had a short stint. He played 15 matches, scored two goals, and was part of the squad that was the runner-up in the 1992 Copa do Brasil. Even without a major sporting impact, he made history as the club's first Venezuelan player.

The second would only appear 33 years later.

In 2025, Fluminense signed Yeferson Soteldo already with the status of a strong name for the offensive sector. The recommendation came from Renato Gaúcho, who had worked with the Venezuelan at Grêmio and saw him as an important piece for a squad preparing to compete in the Club World Cup. The problem was that Soteldo arrived at the club already injured. Out of ideal physical condition, he wasn't even able to play in the initial phase of the international tournament. When he returned to the squad, still without rhythm, he was often used as a substitute and had inconsistent performances, which generated distrust among the fans. Throughout the second half of the year, he managed to play some good matches and improve the perception of his name, but ended the year far from establishing himself as a protagonist, with performance below expectations in most games.

Now, in 2026, Jefferson Savarino completes this historical line with another level of significance.

A Venezuelan at an elite level

Savarino arrives at Fluminense at the peak of his career, with recent titles and impressive numbers. In 2024, with Botafogo, he was champion of the Libertadores and the Brasileirão, scoring 12 goals and providing 13 assists in the season.

In Brazilian football, he built a solid resume. He was Brazilian champion and won the Copa do Brasil with Atlético-MG in 2021 and lifted the main national and continental trophies again three years later, already with the Rio rival.

He is, by far, the most successful Venezuelan to wear the Fluminense jersey.

The 40th foreigner and the new face of the squad

The number reached with Savarino reflects a structural transformation in the club. Since the early 2000s, Fluminense has gone through different phases of internationalization, but none as intense as the current one.

From 2020 onwards, the club consistently expanded the use of the South American market. With the change in the limit of foreigners in Brazilian football, the presence of players from abroad stopped being an exception and became part of the sports planning.

More than a third of the foreigners of the century arrived between 2023 and 2026. Savarino is the symbolic name of this phase.

Direct negotiation with Botafogo

The signing gained extra weight for involving direct negotiation between rivals. Fluminense took advantage of Botafogo's openness to advance in the negotiation, in a context that went beyond a simple squad adjustment. Internally, the alvinegro club already assessed that Savarino's departure would be an unpopular decision with the fans, but considered necessary.

The Venezuelan had one of the top five salaries in the group, and Botafogo was looking to reduce the payroll and, at the same time, raise funds. The scenario worsened with the transfer ban imposed by FIFA, which prevents the club from registering reinforcements due to the debt with Atlanta United, related to the signing of Thiago Almada in 2024.

As part of the agreement, Fluminense permanently transferred the midfielder Wallace Davi, aged 18, retaining a percentage of a future sale. The financial package could reach R$ 19 million, conditioned on goals, and Savarino signed a contract until December 2029.

Replacement for Arias?

The arrival of the Venezuelan also meets a clear technical need. Fluminense lost Jhon Arias, sold to Wolverhampton for 17 million euros, and needed a player capable of taking on an offensive leadership role.

Savarino offers similar numbers in goals and assists, with different characteristics. In Luis Zubeldía's system, he can play on both sides or in the middle, without compromising the team's structure.

A symbol of a more international Fluminense

Savarino marks a statistical milestone, but also represents a moment for the club. The Fluminense of 2026 is more international, more experienced, and better prepared to compete at a high level, including aiming for the Libertadores bicampeonato.

The Venezuelan arrives as one of the central pieces of a sports project that bets on a strong, versatile squad accustomed to big decisions.

And this time, Venezuela does not appear as an exception in the tricolor history. It appears as part of it.

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