Another day of lectures, roundtables and exclusive experiences took place this Thursday (18), on the fourth day of the Flamengo Academy. After many practical activities the day before, the students returned to the CT auditorium for the continuation of the workshop “Red-Black DNA — an Immersion in Flamengo’s Methodology”, at Ninho do Urubu. Professionals from the club’s youth categories shared their experiences in four lectures from different areas.

The opening of the event was led by Ricardo Perlingeiro, scouting/market manager for Flamengo's youth categories, who detailed his department's work while developing the theme "Talent Identification: The Scout's Perspective in Modern Football". Alongside Sandro Gomes, scouting supervisor, Perlingeiro explained the processes applied in the sector, the prospecting, the tools used, and the observations and evaluations carried out in the recruitment of athletes.

Next, Arthur Figueiredo, the marketing coordinator for Flamengo's youth academy, spoke about the behind-the-scenes aspects of negotiations and the arrival of players signed by the club, as well as contract renewals for Flamengo players. Figueiredo detailed the steps leading up to the finalization of the contracts in his presentation on "Negotiations: Renewal and Signing."

Earlier in the morning, the students had the opportunity to learn about the importance of the legal field in football. Gabriela Messeti, coordinator of the legal department, demonstrated that youth categories cannot do without the presence of this sector for specific work in drafting contracts for athletes in the lower divisions. Messeti spoke about legal security and contractual protection for athletes and clubs to avoid problems that could lead to lawsuits, and also stressed the need to work discreetly, always in accordance with the law.

After lunch, it was Leonam Kasali's turn, Flamengo's youth football market manager, to address the topic "The Athlete in the Market: Training, Career and Opportunities". One of Kasali's objectives is to prepare players to meet the demands of professional football when called upon to participate in the training and match schedule of the first team. The manager emphasized that this preparation is also important for the future, because if the athlete does not remain at Flamengo, they will be ready to meet the demands of a professional football club, whether in Brazil or abroad. Knowledge of player profiles is fundamental for accurate market analysis and placement.

The roundtable discussion "The Invisible Side of Performance: Family, Managers, Social Networks, Pressure, and Exposure," moderated by the youth football director Alfredo Almeida and the process coordinator José Rodrigo, concluded the penultimate day of the Flamengo Academy program. João Victor Souza, one of the captains of Flamengo's under-20 team, was among the guests. Alongside his coach, Marcelo Salazar, the defender spoke about his career and explained how each of these themes influenced his development as an athlete. Salazar, in turn, clarified his methods and strategies for dealing with these issues that shape the character of his players both on and off the field, as well as other procedures for preparing players and training the team.