Flamengo board should not proceed with the hiring of Martial

After Pedro's serious knee injury, which will require surgery, Flamengo considered signing French striker Martial to replace him. However, after internal discussions, Marcos Braz and other football directors decided to halt negotiations on Wednesday (11). The conclusion reached by the football board was that Gabigol, Bruno Henrique and Carlinhos are fully capable of replacing Pedro. Flamengo had set an internal deadline to decide whether to move forward with any signing of a striker by this Tuesday.

What influenced the retreat?

Martial, formerly of Manchester United and currently without a club, was the strongest name considered internally by Flamengo's directors, but his history of recurring injuries and his inactivity weighed against the French athlete, since his last match was in December 2023, having recently recovered from a thigh injury. As his contract with the English team ended in July, Rubro-Negro saw Martial as a market opportunity, already thinking about next season.

Flamengo did not open negotiations with the athlete, but according to GE.com, the directors met last Monday (09) to discuss the matter and other issues related to the club's football, and it was agreed that they would not move forward with a proposal to the Frenchman.

High investment

In addition to the high cost of bringing an athlete of this level from Europe, the board was also weighed down by the other signings made at the end of the transfer window. The club brought in Michael, Alex Sandro, Gonzalo Plata and Carlos Alcaraz, and Marcos Braz did not see room in the club's financial department to make another large investment.

Even though Flamengo was free on the market, it would have to spend more on Martial than just his salary, including bonus payments so that the player could sign a contract. In order not to put the club's finances at risk, it was necessary to back down from an official offer.

_{Embed from Getty Images}

_{Martial was one of the alternatives considered by Flamengo (Photo: reproduction: Danehouse Photography Ltd/Getty Images Embed)}

Other hires

The club was offered the Dutch striker Memphis Depay, Corinthians' new signing, but due to his high salary the club did not even open negotiations. Chelsea striker Deivid Washington, formerly of Santos, almost arrived on loan on the last day of the transfer window, but the club was unable to complete the signing due to the short deadline.

The transfer window for players without a contract ends on September 20th to play in the Brazilian Championship. The deadline for registration in the quarterfinals of the Libertadores is Friday (13), and for a possible semifinal of the tournament, October 18th.

Featured Photo: Marcos Braz and Flamengo are unlikely to formalize a proposal for Martial (Reproduction/MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images Embed)