Jorge Jesus Criticizes Foreign Player Limit in Brazil
The Portuguese coach challenges CBF's measure while Flamengo drafts proposals and calculates financial impact.
During an interview in Norway, Jorge Jesus spoke out against the reduction of foreign players approved by the CBF and most clubs. Bernardo Ramos analyzes the impact of this decision on the domestic market and on Flamengo's finances.
Jorge Jesus held a press conference in Norway ahead of Portugal's Nations League match, arguing that Brazilian football is making a mistake by restricting the number of foreign players. In the manager's view, the country's true structural issues lie in its match calendar and youth academy development processes, rather than the presence of overseas talent.
The decision to lower the foreign player limit was approved by 37 clubs and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). In the video above, Bernardo Ramos contextualizes the vote, noting that only Flamengo, Bahia, and Londrina formally opposed the measure.
Contradictions in Club Voting and External Examples
For Bernardo, it is surprising to see clubs like Palmeiras and Vasco voting in favor of the restriction. The São Paulo club currently has eight foreign players on its roster, while the Rio de Janeiro side saw significant improvement in the Campeonato Brasileiro and reached the semifinals of both the Copa do Brasil and Copa Sudamericana, powered by names such as Andrés Gómez, Colídio, Lescano, and Sores.
The commentator points to European football to show that foreign players elevate the competitive standard without hindering domestic talent development. In Spain, the reigning world champions, the derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid featured only six Spaniards among the 22 starters—players like Pubill, Baena, and Grimaldo for the Colchoneros, and Cucurella for Los Blancos. Even so, the national team continues to produce elite-level talent.
England offers a similar example. Since the launch of the Premier League in the 1992–93 season and the implementation of the Bosman ruling in 1995, the English market has embraced international talent. The last English manager to win the top-flight title was Howard Wilkinson in 1992. Nevertheless, the England national team reached the World Cup semifinals in 2018, the European Championship finals in 2021 and 2024, and third place at the 2026 World Cup.
Flamengo's Proposals and Sponsorship Losses
Following the approval of the new rule, Flamengo is working on proposals to mitigate domestic market inflation. Among the ideas championed by the club are abolishing the 12-match cap in the Campeonato Brasileiro that prevents players from transferring to another domestic team in the same season, as well as discussions on age restrictions for transfers abroad.
Alongside sporting restrictions, the club faces a substantial financial impact. Reports from Rodrigo Matos and statements by club president Bap to news outlet Metrópoles indicate the termination of their contract with Betano. Having recorded revenue of R$ 2.078 billion in 2025, Flamengo stands to lose approximately R$ 400 million, an amount representing roughly 20% of its budgeted revenue.