Club chief on exit talk: “I’ll work as if retiring at Flamengo” | OneFootball

Alfredo Almeida stressed that he is independent of José Boto

Flamengo’s squad returned last Friday (19) at the Ninho do Urubu Training Center. Some club members took the opportunity to speak to the press, including people from the youth setup. The department manager, Portuguese official Alfredo Almeida, was asked whether he would leave the club along with José Boto if the first-team director leaves Rio de Janeiro.

— When I sat down in the youth director’s chair, I gathered all the Flamengo academy employees and was very clear, and I’ll repeat it. I’m going to work as if I were going to retire at Flamengo. That’s what I’m going to do. And my goal is to leave a legacy, my goal is to cement, to pave the way —, said Alfredo Almeida.

— Therefore, now, obviously everyone has a career, everyone has an age. As long as Flamengo believes I am the right person for the position I hold, I am very happy, and I want to leave a legacy in Flamengo’s youth setup —, added the director.

In the foreign press, José Boto’s name has been linked with several clubs, including Milan (ITA). However, the Portuguese official intends to fulfill his contract with Flamengo, which runs until December 2026. Since the youth director was hired by the first-team director, he was asked about possible ‘loyalty’ in the event of a farewell.

AND WHAT ABOUT FLAMENGO’S YOUTH-FIRST TEAM INTEGRATION, AFTER ALL?

Alfredo also answered questions about the transition process from the youth ranks to the first team. With nine Flamengo players away at the World Cup, Leonardo Jardim turned to the lower categories at the start of training to complete the sessions.

— Of course we talk (youth and first team). We are aligned. We know what the first team has, we know what the youth setup has. I have no doubt at all that our first-team coach (Leonardo Jardim) is extremely prepared, very used to working with young players —, Almeida began.

— He knows what is necessary for a young player to establish himself in the first team, we have no doubts whatsoever. We are aligned, he is the first-team coach and helps in the development process of the players who are here in the youth setup. That is fundamental —, he stressed.

SO, WHAT IS FLAMENGO’S SCHEDULE?

Thus, with many academy youngsters, Flamengo trained on Friday (19) and Saturday (20) at 10 a.m. (Brasília time) at Ninho do Urubu. Sunday’s session (21) is also scheduled for the same time. It is worth noting that the delegation travels on the 28th for its mid-season training camp, including three friendlies in Portugal.

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