Flamengo have confirmed the signing of young 19-year-old Argentine striker Joaquín Freitas, following Anthony Valencia’s previous announcement. The club intensifies the arrival of new names for the squad, in a move seen on September 1, 2026.

Previously a River Plate player, the athlete had his arrival announced on the Rio team’s digital platforms.

In a welcome message on social media, Flamengo expressed optimism, wishing “many titles and great performances with Manto” for the new member of the team.

The transaction was finalized at US$8 million (approximately R$41 million) as a fixed amount, according to information obtained. However, the amount can rise to US$15 million (around R$77.8 million) if the player meets certain goals established by the club.

Both Freitas and Anthony Valencia will be included in the list of players eligible for the CONMEBOL Libertadores quarter-finals.

The arrival of the new attackers comes after the club negotiated Gonzalo Plata with Dynamo Moscow and Wallace Yan with Red Bull Bragantino, reorganizing its offensive sector.

How does the Argentine journalist describe Joaquín Freitas’ playing style?

To detail the characteristics of the new reinforcement, Mix Vale sought the opinion of experts who followed the athlete’s trajectory.

Juan Patricio Balbi, a sports journalist from Argentina, shared his perspective on what Flamengo fans can expect from the striker.

Balbi described Freitas as a player who has “strength, speed, unpredictability and, of course, a lot of personality”. These qualities led him to participate in 30 games for River Plate in a short space of time, with one goal and two assists. The journalist also mentioned that he often played in positions that were not his preferred position, such as right-wing.

Also according to Balbi, in the youth divisions of River Plate and at Acassuso, where he played five professional games in the Argentine third division in 2023 for the Primera Metropolitana, Freitas always stood out as a center forward or second striker.

In River’s main squad, the young athlete played more of a supporting role to a center forward than that of a traditional “9 shirt”. With his departure, River Plate will need to look for a replacement with similar characteristics and comparable potential. Despite his age, at just 19 years old, Freitas has already been called up by Lionel Scaloni for the Argentine national team on a tour in mid-2026, planning for the World Cup.