Flamengo Signs Joaquín Freites and Anthony Valencia
The board reinvests funds from the Plata sale into scout-driven signings for the season.
Flamengo has finalized deals for Argentine forward Joaquín Freites and Ecuadorian winger Anthony Valencia in the transfer market. Analyst Bernardo Ramos examines the profile of the new signings and highlights tactical adjustments needed in Leonardo Jardim's squad.
Flamengo completed the signing of two new players on Monday: 19-year-old Argentine forward Joaquín Freites and 23-year-old Ecuadorian right winger Anthony Valencia. The club's board is racing against time to register both players before the Copa Libertadores registration deadline closes this Friday.
In the video above, Bernardo Ramos analyzes the technical skill sets of the new signings and details how the club's football department has relied on scouting to strengthen the squad.
Profiles of Joaquín Freites and Anthony Valencia
Anthony Valencia landed in Rio de Janeiro at Tom Jobim International Airport and will undergo medical exams this Monday. The Ecuadorian was signed for 5 million euros from Belgium's Royal Antwerp, where he returned to action after suffering an ACL injury the previous year. A natural right winger who has been capped for his national team, he arrives as a rotational piece in the role previously filled by Gonzalo Plata, who was recently transferred to Dynamo Moscow. In Bernardo's view, he is a quality player in the same tier, without being an undisputed star.
Meanwhile, Joaquín Freites was acquired from River Plate for $8 million, equivalent to just over 40 million reais. Developed as a center forward at Acassuso, the young player had been featuring on the right wing or as a second striker under Eduardo Coudet in Argentina. Bernardo highlights that Freites is seen as a future gem in Argentine soccer, having already received a senior national team call-up, even if he had not yet cemented a decisive role for the Buenos Aires club. In the analyst's assessment, the funds invested in the duo represent a direct reinvestment of the money gained from Gonzalo Plata's departure into promising scouting targets identified by José Boto, avoiding reckless spending such as the rumored pursuit of Luis Henrique.
Tactical Adjustments and Inconsistency in the Derby
Beyond transfer market moves, Bernardo demanded explanations from manager Leonardo Jardim regarding the team's drop-offs in performance during the second half of matches. This scenario played out again in the derby against Botafogo, where the team squandered chances to extend its first-half lead due to Pedro overcomplicating his finishing.
In Bernardo's assessment, Leonardo Jardim took too long to make substitutions as the opponent gained momentum, but found the answer by bringing on Lucas Paquetá, Carrascal, and Cebolinha, combined with shifting Samarlino into the central attacking role. The forward scored twice in the match and stood out in the victory, displaying smart runs and penalty box presence despite subpar performances from Pedro and Paquetá.