After recent failures in the transfer market, such as the attempts to sign Thiago Almada and Luiz Henrique, Flamengo decided to make a change of course and closed the signings of Argentine Joaquín Freitas, 19 years old, and Ecuadorian Anthony Valencia, 23 years old. These first reinforcements of this transfer window break away from the line of big names and record values that recently prevailed at the club.
The two young players represent a new investment philosophy, with lower cost and possibility of growth and future appreciation. Within the current management of the club, the red-and-black team had only made one attempt to sign a name with more of a "scout profile" with Juninho, in early 2025, but the player is already a veteran and ended up being sold after a year of little use.
When making proposals for big names in the current window, the tendency was for the scouting method to be set aside by the football department commanded by director José Boto. However, things changed and Flamengo opted for this different approach with the two South Americans.
Together, Freitas and Valencia will cost Flamengo R$ 70 million. Their capacity for evolution and development are seen as important factors for this bet by the red-and-black club in the South American market.
