The cancellation of Gonzalo Plata’s transfer to Dynamo Moscow, in Russia, caused great surprise among members of the Flamengo squad. President Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, did not expect this turnaround in plans.
On September 1, 2026, one day before the Russian team withdrew from the deal, Bap had celebrated with advisors the negotiation of the striker, which would yield around 10 million euros, approximately R$60 million, an amount considered significant for the red and black finances.
Flamengo plans legal measures after Plata transfer annulment
During a recent Board of Directors meeting, which was attended by more than sixty people both in Gávea and online, Bap made a surprising statement regarding Plata’s situation. He stated: “I’m very happy with the sale of Plata because now we no longer need to walk around at night in Rio de Janeiro to find out what or how much he’s drinking.”
Advisors who were present at the time expressed surprise at the speech, since, for them, the Ecuadorian striker had no direct connection with the main topic discussed at the meeting. Although the sessions are recorded on video, access to this footage is restricted and exclusive for Flamengo’s internal use.
In the two years he was at Flamengo, Plata consolidated the image of a strategically relevant player for coaches Filipe Luís and Leonardo Jardim. Without the ball, he is a key player in the defensive recovery on the right side, and his flexibility allows him to play both on the left wing and in the center of the attack.
Financial impact for Flamengo with the return of Plata negotiations
Plata’s dedication on the field, on certain occasions, caused the club to overlook some nighttime conduct considered problematic, which resulted in delays and the exchange of training for physiotherapy, during Filipe Luís’ management. Under the command of Leonardo Jardim, the striker was removed from a game in March and received a public warning at a press conference.
The sequence of events, including the exposure of internal problems, angered Plata and his team. The player removed all photos with the Flamengo shirt from his social networks, except one with the Libertadores cup, and stopped following the club’s official profile. At the time, Bap himself publicly intervened to calm the situation, declaring in March, during the release of the documentary “Zico, the Samurai of Quintino”: “Plata is a Flamengo player, we have no intention of negotiating him. And his situation is discussed and dealt with by football people. But we have no intention of negotiating Plata.”
Later, the Ecuadorian athlete regained coach Leonardo Jardim’s trust and established himself as one of Flamengo’s big names before the World Cup. In the second half of the year, he continued as a starter, participating in important matches, such as the two clashes against Cruzeiro in the round of 16 of the Libertadores.
In contrast to the president’s private opinion revealed to advisors, Flamengo released an official note on September 2, 2026. In it, the club praised the Ecuadorian striker and assured that he would be “welcomed with open doors” to be reinstated to the squad. The statement said: “Gonzalo Plata, who has already won CONMEBOL Libertadores, Copa do Brasil, Brasileirão, Supercopa Rei and Cariocão with Flamengo, will be welcomed with open doors to continue his successful journey with the club.” The note also mentioned that the club will seek “appropriate reparations in light of the neglect and devaluation imposed on the club and its athlete.”
Many players in the squad also expressed satisfaction with Plata’s return. Among them, the idol Arrascaeta, captain and one of the leaders of the group. The number 10 spoke publicly, celebrating on a social network: “What a player we got back Platita 😍”. Previously, when saying goodbye to Plata, Arrascaeta had published a photo of the attacker on his profile with the message: “We’re going to miss you, good ball boy ❤️”.
Plata’s arrival in Rio de Janeiro is scheduled for September 3, 2026. He will not be present in the match against Mirassol, scheduled for 7:30 pm at Maracanã, in the delayed fourth round of the Brazilian Championship. The striker is expected to be available to coach Jardim on September 7, 2026, for the game against Remo, at Mangueirão.
