Flamengo is looking for a player whose name will propel the club beyond borders. Flamengo's front office is mulling a move for Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Gio Reyna, and this interest is anything but coincidental. The club is looking to strengthen its squad ahead of the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup, and the name of the USMNT is perfectly in line with Flamengo's ambition of becoming a global force.
Flamengo's strategy is to utilize the Club World Cup as a platform to inform the world that it's not just a talent exporter but also a modern center for star footballers. A place where talents from different countries can play, grow, excel, and become internationally known. Signing an American like Reyna to the squad is a genius move, both on and off the field.
Reyna came on the club's radar after being introduced by a powerful agent who had close contacts at Flamengo. According to Agência RTI Esporte, it was the news that was communicated to sporting director José Boto, who then sold the project to the coaches. Internally, the player is already deemed a real chance, both technically and commercially.
Lack of minutes at Dortmund could speed up his exit
His current role at Borussia Dortmund is not ideal, however. He played in 25 games in the previous season for the attacking midfielder but started only five of them under Croatian head coach Niko Kovac. He's been overtaken, watched others take his place, and now is shopping around for options that provide him with more playing time. Flamengo is turning out to be one such option.
Even though other clubs also showed interest, Flamengo moved quickly after establishing direct contact with the player's camp early in the transfer window. That first lead could be a strong bargaining chip in the negotiations, especially if Flamengo's sporting project is more enticing than that name on another jersey.
Privately, the club is in talks with borrowing the player for one year with an option to buy his economic rights when the contract expires. It is a tempting option because it would tie up the least amount of risk while giving the club enough time to assess his performance before investing more capital. It is a trend that is increasingly being adopted by teams that prefer to spend wisely.
Flamengo puts together a squad to become global
The strategy of the club is to mix known Brazilian players with worldwide name recognition. Reyna is an ideal candidate. He has experience in the Champions League, has a reputation to uphold in the U.S., and can serve as a bridge to boost the market for Flamengo.
This kind of signing is also accompanied by new business partnerships, excites the fan base worldwide, and solidifies Flamengo as a global club. In a world where marketing, web presence, and global recognition are as crucial as trophies, signing Reyna might be more than a footballing decision. It could be an image play maneuver.
It's a risk, but one that needs to be taken, if Flamengo really needs to transcend South America's boundaries. Top-class soccer is a global phenomenon now. And Flamengo seems poised to stake its claim.