Flamengo surprised the market by signing Joaquín Freitas, a young talent from Argentine football, just 19 years old, from River Plate for about R$ 41 million. The plan of the red-black club is clear: develop the player so he becomes a reserve option for Pedro, who is currently the starter striker of the team. The striker position is considered one of the main weaknesses of Flamengo's squad.
Freitas arrived in Rio de Janeiro with characteristics desired by the club's football department. However, the young player still has a lot to develop. He is treated as a promising talent in his country and even received an opportunity with the Argentine national team, playing alongside Lionel Messi in a friendly in June of this year.
The player is described as a forward with good mobility, explosiveness, vision and, above all, versatility. Although he is a striker by nature, Freitas had been playing as a winger at River Plate, mainly on the right side, due to having some players ahead of him in the Argentine squad's hierarchy.
Recent behavior on the pitch raised doubts among fans about Freitas's main position, but not at Flamengo. The club shows confidence that it can return the player to the striker role, using his versatility to shape him according to the team's needs.
