Flamengo’s audacious dream: Vinícius Junior back in Rio for a legendary encore

Background

Flamengo recently welcomed Lucas Paquetá, one of the academy’s brightest graduates, but their ambitions don’t end there. In the latest hours, the dream of signing Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid’s star, has grown firmer than ever. The club knows that completing the deal hinges on the player’s desire, so they throw open the doors for him to shine again at the Maracanã.

Vinícius left Flamengo in 2017, and nine years later he is going through one of his toughest moments, having endured boos at the Santiago Bernabéu and a long goal drought in La Liga, which he finally ended last Sunday.

According to AS, Flamengo know they will give him all the love he deserves and that he could become a true legend upon his return.

Jose Botto, Flamengo’s sporting director, was clear during Paquetá’s presentation: “His contract is about to end, and he sent me a wonderful gift, a signed jersey. You can’t chase players of this type unless they truly want to join. It depends more on Vinícius than on us. The door is always open for Vini.”

Vinícius’s contract ends in June 2027, when he will be nearing 27 and having spent many years at Real Madrid. Is it time for a change of scenery?

Botto knows there will be an option then: “The contract is ending; we won’t have to pay anything.”

Vinícius is reportedly courted by several destinations, notably the Premier League and Saudi Arabia, which makes Flamengo’s task of re-signing him more difficult.

Rumors won’t stop until Vinícius renews with Real Madrid, and the coming weeks could be decisive for Flamengo’s season’s closing stretch.

Punchline time: if Flamengo pulls this off, we’ll all be watching the samba remix of life—Vinícius wearing red and black with a twist of Maracanã magic. And if it doesn’t happen, don’t worry, the internet will still dance to the rumor beat—because football loves a good plot twist almost as much as a last-minute goal.