Flamengo plans to sell players to offset the impact of the betting ban.
Flamengo has been internally discussing, in recent days, ways to deal with a potential financial impact should the ban on betting sites in Brazil remain in place next year. In the worst-case scenario assessed by the board, the solution would involve selling players.
The analysis was revealed by Diogo Dantas' column on Globo Online. According to the report, the players identified as having the greatest potential for sale are the 26-year-old striker Samuel Lino and the 29-year-old midfielder Lucas Paquetá. Both have outstanding contractual installments with their current clubs, which further strains Flamengo's budget for the coming years.
Internally, Samuel Lino is seen as the player who would generate the most revenue in a negotiation next year. Recently called up to the Brazilian national team, the striker is in good form at the end of the season. His purchase from Atlético de Madrid cost Flamengo 25 million euros. Only one installment was paid in 2025; the other two are due until 2027.
Paquetá, signed from West Ham for 42 million euros, also has half of that amount still outstanding until 2027. Since arriving at Flamengo, the midfielder has not established himself as a regular starter under Leonardo Jardim's management. Director José Boto indicated this Thursday (October 1st) that the scheduled payments may be delayed.
“When the president says 'how am I going to pay Paquetá', he's not talking about Paquetá's salary. He's talking about how we're going to pay West Ham for the commitments we've made,” Boto stated.
Other players on the list
Besides Lino and Paquetá, the club may negotiate the transfer of Gonzalo Plata. The striker's sale to Dynamo Moscow, Russia, for $12 million fell through after he failed medical exams. Midfielder Everton Araújo, from the youth academy, is also on the list of potential departures, but an injury delayed a deal that could have been finalized this year.
Flamengo has also sold young players from its youth academy for more modest sums. The most recent example is Lorran, who was transferred to Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates for around 1,3 million euros.
Impact of Betano's sponsorship
The worrying financial scenario goes beyond the installments for Paquetá, whose total value reached R$ 315 million. The board had planned to use resources from the contract with Betano, the main sponsor, to settle commitments related to other players signed in the last two transfer windows. The list includes Paquetá, Plata, Emerson Royal, Samuel Lino, Joaquín Freitas, and Anthony Valencia. The estimate was to allocate approximately R$ 40 million per year from the sponsor for these payments.
The current contract with Betano provides for R$ 268 million in annual revenue. The company has not yet officially informed the club about a possible termination following the federal government's decision to ban betting in the country, but admits concern about the regulatory landscape. The sponsorship funds for 2026 have already been advanced by the club to enable new signings.
