Redemption? Samuel Lino aims to lay old ghosts to rest at Flamengo | OneFootball

Samuel Lino arrives at Flamengo with the club's most expensive signing status

Flamengo is close to announcing another reinforcement. That's because the Most Beloved agreed, on Friday (25), to buy Samuel Lino from Atlético de Madrid (ESP) for 22 million euros (approximately R$ 143 million), with the possibility of an additional 2 million in bonuses for goals. However, it is worth noting that this is not the player's first stint with the Rubro-Negro.

The 25-year-old forward, who plays on the wings, was formed at São Bernardo. However, the athlete was loaned to Flamengo's youth categories in 2017, after standing out in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, the Copinha.

Among the youngsters at Ninho, however, Lino had adaptation problems. Despite being a champion of the Copinha in 2018, the forward was not a starter in the campaign and was inconsistent on the field. Thus, the athlete stayed only a year and a half in Rio de Janeiro before returning to São Bernardo.

"In 2018, I was fortunate to be a champion of the Copinha, participating in some games. It was the first important title I won. I had a good phase after the Copinha, but we talked and thought it was best for me to leave and return to São Bernardo. It was all very fast. I stayed a year and a half at Flamengo, then just six months at São Bernardo, and I came to Europe," Lino recalls in an interview given in 2022.

Turnaround?

After four seasons in Europe, Lino has the opportunity to return to Brazil and write a new story with the Sacred Mantle. The forward arrives with the status of the most expensive signing in the history of the Most Beloved, surpassing the arrival of Carlos Alcaraz in 2024.

Did Flamengo beat the Europeans?

The negotiation for Samuel Lino faced obstacles due to the payment method, as European clubs like Napoli (ITA) and Sporting (POR) also showed interest in the signing. However, Flamengo presented the best offer, which pleased Atlético de Madrid. The Spaniards agreed to receive part of the value upfront, with the rest divided into two installments.

Does Flamengo remain in the market?

The transfer window goes until September 2nd. Thus, after signing midfielder Saúl Ñíguez, right-back Emerson Royal, and forward Samuel Lino, Flamengo should continue to seek reinforcements. In addition, the club still wants to finalize the purchase of midfielder Jorge Carrascal, who belongs to Dynamo Moscow (RUS).

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