Cebolinha's move to Santos helps explain why Flamengo decided to release the player without charging for the transfer and without demanding payment for his economic rights, even with about four months remaining until the end of his contract, which expires in December. The explanation is in the math. Cebolinha receives a very high salary per month. Considering taxes and charges, the striker's total cost to Flamengo reaches approximately R$ 3.6 million monthly. With four months remaining until the end of the year, the savings would reach R$ 14.4 million.
In other words, Flamengo gives up on potential revenue from Cebolinha's departure, but can avoid spending heavily on salaries, taxes, and charges until December. The math helps understand the club's strategy: given a player who had not been considered a key piece in Leonardo Jardim's squad and with a contract nearing its end, reducing one of the highest costs on the payroll may be more advantageous than trying to obtain financial compensation for a transfer.
