So...It's Your First Flamengo Crisis

Flamengo’s Nine-Day Crossroads: From Global Acclaim to Self-Inflicted Chaos

It’s hard to believe that just nine days ago, Flamengo was being celebrated around the world.

Millions of new fans, a brand-building playground for the club. Suddenly met with an all-too-familiar boogeyman for Brazilian teams.

A panic-fueled crisis.

Usually, this is caused by a disappointing exit out of a competition or a poor loss to a rival, but for Flamengo, this one is different.

On June 29, 2025, they lost 4–2 to Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup — but anyone who watched knew it wasn’t a failure. They played brave, high-level football. It looked like a team with global ambitions, not just domestic dominance.

• Reuters said Flamengo “impressed with a bold attacking style… making them the first Brazilian club in 13 years to seriously challenge European teams.”
• The Guardian said they “played well… beaten by a real colossus.”
• Bavarian Football Works called Flamengo one of the tournament’s most entertaining sides.

They came back to Brazil with respect. And within days, all of it unraveled.

The Pedro Leak

Three days later, journalist Mauro Cézar published leaked internal messages suggesting Pedro could be sold for €15 million, allegedly by Sporting Director José Boto.

The club denied it. Mauro dismissed their denial. Pedro stayed silent. But the damage was done.

Hell, even I got mad.

A fan favorite — a player who grew up in the stands with us — was being reduced to a price tag coming off an injury.

The Gerson Transfer — The Tinder On The Bonfire

Gerson wasn’t just another player. He was the heartbeat of Flamengo’s midfield. A captain. A symbol.

And then, suddenly, he was gone. Again.

Boto had previously negotiated a reduced release clause for Gerson. Some fans saw that as weakness. Others saw it as sending a message.

But it played right into the hands of Marcão — Gerson’s father and agent — who quickly used the clause to finalize a move to Zenit, purely for higher wages.

This wasn’t about sporting challenge or legacy. It was about money.

Some fans turned on Boto for letting it happen. Others didn't (including me).

If a player doesn’t want to stay, you take fair compensation and move on. But let’s not pretend this wasn’t ugly. Gerson didn’t fight to stay. His father prioritized a check. The club lost its leader — not to Europe’s elite, but to a cold business deal.

And that hurt.

A big piece of our team is missing, but Boto has made it clear that he doesn't see a need to replace him.

How could you not? A national team level midfielder who can play anywhere. A rare blend of strength and technique. It's not easy, but he needs to be replaced by a similar level of player.

Mikey Johnston: From Announced to Abandoned

Mikey Johnston, 26, was reportedly signed from West Brom for €5 million. His arrival in Rio was booked. Filipe Luís had spoken to him, even planned to debut him this weekend.

Then — the deal collapsed overnight.

Concerns over Mikey’s knees and back arose. His profile was already mocked: “dribbles, crosses, doesn’t score.” A Scottish-Irish winger, quiet and technical, not built for Rio’s heat — literally or culturally.

Then, it got surreal.

On live Brazilian TV, Vampeta called Robbie Keane — Mikey’s manager — and asked for a character reference. Keane said,

“Yeah, I think he is getting better and better. Also, he is a good guy."

Getting better and better is fine, but it's not what Flamengo needs right now.

And overnight, the transfer was blocked by Luiz Eduardo Baptista, president of Flamengo, for medical concerns. It was deemed he would not be able to make it in the rigorous Brazilian calendar.

It was humiliating. For Mikey. For the club. For all of us.

A club like Flamengo cannot make football decisions based on social media pressure.
Not Twitter memes. Not angry spaces. Not influencers.

Medicals matter. But so do professionalism and discretion.
You can't run a global club with reactionary energy.

Turf Wars: Psychologists, Replacements & Power Struggles

Beneath all this?
A silent war between BAP and Boto.

Before the Club World Cup, BAP wanted to bring Flamengo’s psychologist with the squad.
Boto said no.

Flamengo collapsed mentally in the first 15 minutes against Bayern — something many blamed on nerves and poor prep.

After the tournament, they clashed again — this time over replacing Gerson.

• BAP wants a new starter.
• Boto thinks it’s unnecessary.

This isn’t strategy. It’s dysfunction.
You can’t run a title-contending club when your president and sporting director are on different planets.

Transfer Targets That Weren’t

In the days following, Flamengo were linked to:

• Jorge Carrascal — bid reportedly €12 million. Dynamo Kyiv wanted more.
• Esequiel Barco — floated. Never materialized.
• Rodrigo De Paul — exciting headline, but at this point just a dream.

Plenty of drama. No signings.
And with this Cold War, all transfers are frozen.

Fans Turn on the Club

Nine days ago: Flamengo were global darlings.

Today?

• Boto’s under siege and considering resigning. Months after being appointed.
• Filipe Luís — four losses, multiple trophies — is hearing boos.

Flamengo doesn’t just demand excellence. It punishes anything less with fire.

The Braz Illusion

Some fans are now asking: “Bring back Marcos Braz.”

Please stop.

Yes, he landed some big signings. But that doesn’t erase:

• Chaotic management
• Poor strategy
• Public fights with media
• A literal mall brawl where he bit a fan’s thigh
• And oh yeah — he was running for city council while still Flamengo’s VP of Football

His reign was performative. Emotional. Loud.
Flamengo needs a builder, not a brawler.

My Thoughts

I love Flamengo. I always will. But this is one of the strangest and saddest nine-day spirals I’ve ever seen.

Boto deserves criticism — for communication, for strategy, for the Pedro leak. But not for Gerson. He did what professionals do: let go when someone doesn’t want to be here.

BAP, you said you’d be hands-off. Then you weren’t. Blocking Mikey may have been right. But it needed to be private, not public theater.

Filipe, you’re one of us. Bring calm. We need your voice off the pitch as much as on it.

And fans — take a breath.

We lost to Bayern Munich, not Mirassol.
We’re first in the league.
We’re still alive in every tournament.

We are Flamengo.
Let’s act like it.

For the Newcomers

If this is your first week in Brazilian football, welcome to your first crise no Flamengo.

It’s passionate. It’s chaotic. It’s noisy. And it’s unmatched.

While right now it's tiring, it is a part of the league, not just Flamengo. Pick a team. Follow the culture. Engage with fans. Be respectful. Learn fast. You’ll fall in love with it.

And hey — it could be worse.

You could be a USMNT fan.
Same cycle. Same faces. No accountability. No urgency.

In Brazil, we overreact.
But that’s because we care.
And caring this much?
That’s the whole point.

Strap in because Flamengo plays next this Saturday at 3:30 pm Eastern. It has to be a show.