Luiz Eduardo Baptista, president of Flamengo, gave an exclusive interview to the newspaper AS, in which he discussed the renewal process with coach Filipe Luís, a central figure in the club's success in 2025, the year they won the Brasileirão and the Libertadores. The executive was one of the main architects of the club's sports project, which culminated in the historic signing of Lucas Paquetá and the recent triumphs under the guidance of the young Brazilian coach. Baptista confirmed his crucial role in the negotiations for the coach's continuity. "Filipe trained in Europe. He is an athlete, intellectually above average. He was already a coach while he was a player. He had that in his DNA," he said. The renewal process, which lasted about ten days, was described as "natural," involving alignment of visions and financial aspects. The main divergence lay in the perspective of the future. "My goal, my vision, in the long term will always be Flamengo. I think about Flamengo today, tomorrow, and in 10 years," he explained. On the other hand, the coach's vision is different: "Filipe does not think about Flamengo in 10 years. His career may continue at Flamengo, but it may not. Therefore, his vision of the future does not necessarily coincide with Flamengo's. It's something natural," he explained. Baptista downplayed the delay in negotiations, which generated anxiety among fans and the press. "It's interesting that people say it took too long. Ten days. I have never made any fundamental decision in that time!" he joked, emphasizing that the pace of football is faster than that of everyday life. On the other hand, the return of Lucas Paquetá to Flamengo, the club where he was formed, was one of the main objectives of the current management. The signing, valued at 42 million euros, was facilitated by a "significant personal challenge" that the player faced, related to the betting case. The opportunity to return to his country and his hometown, Rio de Janeiro, weighed in the decision of the 28-year-old international Brazilian. This growth fuels even bigger dreams. "If I can bring Lucas Paquetá, why couldn't I bring Klopp? Why couldn't I bring another coach?" questioned the club leader, admitting that Flamengo already has the financial capacity to attract renowned European coaches. The main barrier, according to him, would be the coach's willingness to leave Europe. "Now, what I see and is very clear is the following: if someone had said two years ago that Flamengo would have the size it has today, the economic, financial, and sports power it has, perhaps all the journalists in Brazil would have said: 'They are crazy! That will never happen.' And two years later it happened. If someone had said a year ago that Flamengo would bring Lucas Paquetá from England, no one would have believed it. It's easier for a cow to fly than for Flamengo to do what we did. Six months ago, the South American press was very surprised by the signing of Samuel Lino, because it cost 22 million euros. Everyone was wondering how Flamengo could sign such a young player for that amount. Well, six months later, we are bringing Lucas Paquetá for 42 million euros. Regarding the future of coach Filipe Luís, who has been linked to a move to Europe, the president adopts a daily work philosophy to make Flamengo an increasingly attractive project. "My job is to make the best want to stay here for a long time. The more successful Flamengo is, the harder it will be for those here to want to leave," he declared. "Filipe has every right to think about Europe… but this world is changing very quickly. I work day by day to make the decision to leave Flamengo difficult for those who are here, and for those who want to come, that it be a simple decision."
Luiz Eduardo Baptista On the remains central to this story.
Luiz Eduardo Baptista On the remains central to this story.
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