After the defeat on penalties in the intercontinental final against PSG, coach Filipe Luís sent a request to the Flamengo players: that everyone take care of themselves during the holidays, thinking of their return in January.
These farewells clearly suggested a meeting later, even before the club’s resumption of negotiations to renew the coach’s contract, which expires at the end of this year. There is trust for another reason.
In the opinion of Flamengo’s management, Filipe Luís’ excellent season will open doors for him in Europe, but there will be practically no free club to think about recruiting him.
The board of directors will therefore propose an increase in value and a new contract within the limits of what it considers deserved by the coach, who has not hidden his dream of one day returning to Europe.
But today there are obstacles. In addition to the market closing in January, mid-season Filipe does not have a license to work in the Premier League in England.
The options would be limited to other countries, such as Portugal and Spain, which have coaches in their main teams. Arab football is considered a financial alternative, but not a sporting one.
For a coach at the start of his career, Flamengo understands that renewal will be the best route, unless Filipe wants to hear offers from another Brazilian club. Which is not the case.
Everything will therefore go through the conversation planned in the coming days between the coach and president Luis Eduardo Baptista, Bap, who took the lead in the negotiations.
Since the Libertadores’ place in the final, the subject has been frozen. Director José Boto voted for continuity and left the negotiations to the agent, who thought about it.
Filipe is represented by the Portuguese businessman Jorge Mendes, with a good entry into Europe and already aligned with the professional’s financial intentions. A common denominator is expected.
For the moment, there is nothing to indicate, neither in the Flamengo locker room, nor in market movements, that the club’s marriage with Filipe Luís is in danger. But you will have to put everything on paper.
About The Author
