After recent market failures, such as the attempts to sign Thiago Almada and Luiz Henrique, Flamengo decided to make a change of course. The club closed the signings of Argentine Joaquín Freitas, 19, and Ecuadorian Anthony Valencia, 23, the first signings of this window that break away from the star-studded and record-value line that prevailed recently at the club.
Both players are young talents at a lower cost, with potential for growth and appreciation. Within the current Flamengo management, the only name with more of a "scout profile" had been Juninho, at the beginning of 2025, but the player was already a veteran and ended up being sold after a year of limited playing time on the field.
When it made offers for big names in the current window, the tendency was for the method of seeking less high-profile players to continue being sidelined by the football department led by director José Boto. However, things changed, and the club adopted a new market strategy.
Together, Freitas and Valencia will cost Flamengo R$70 million, and their capacity for evolution represents the club's bet on young players who can develop and increase in value within the red-and-black squad.
