Flamengo’s Samuel Lino on chat with Depay: "He said that…" | OneFootball

Forward says returning early from Europe is not a problem, and thus, Samuel Lino chose Flamengo

Samuel Lino emphasized that returning to Brazilian football was not a step backward when he revealed he had met Dutchman Memphis Depay, from Corinthians, during his vacation. The new signing for Flamengo made the statement during a press conference this Friday (1), one day after his official debut.

— A month ago I told my mother: ‘imagine me coming back to Brazil, close to family.’ I never thought about age, I think the Brazilian market has grown a lot. You saw it at the Club World Cup. I played against Botafogo in the last round and they made it difficult for us. They also have a lot of quality. Brazil is experiencing tremendous growth. I met Memphis when I was on vacation in São Paulo and he said football was growing, the infrastructure and everything — highlighted the forward.

After six seasons in European football, with appearances in the Champions League, the 25-year-old player expressed his desire to win trophies with Flamengo and to seek a spot on the Brazilian National Team for the 2026 World Cup.

— After Flamengo showed interest, I didn’t think I was too young and should stay in Europe. I tell my agent, Flamengo is a huge club in Brazil. If it were in Europe, it would also be fighting for titles. I never thought about age or being young. When the project is good and will help you grow, showcase your football and what you love and know how to do, age doesn’t matter — said the number 16.

How many more have joined Flamengo?

In addition to Lino, the club has already officially announced the signings of Saúl Ñíguez, Emerson Royal, and Jorge Carrascal, who is awaiting an official announcement. However, the football department remains interested in forward Lucas Beltrán, from Fiorentina (ITA).

When is Flamengo’s next match?

While the board keeps an eye on the market, Flamengo remains focused on the next fixtures of the season. This Sunday (03), Filipe Luís’s team faces Ceará at 6:30 p.m. (Brasília time), at Castelão, for the 18th round of the championship. As tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla will bring you all the details about the match.

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