Flamengo unveiled Maldonado and Álvaro as the club's new signings for the Brazilian Championship late Thursday afternoon at the Rogério Steinberg Auditorium in Gávea. The 29-year-old Chilean and the 31-year-old defender signed one-year contracts with the Gávea club.

Experienced defender Álvaro said he always dreamed of wearing the red-and-black shirt and that he didn't think twice about signing with the red-and-black club.

"I've always wanted to play for Flamengo, and I've made no secret of it. Flamengo is a club that represents a lot in Brazil. It's practically a religion. I'm the kind of player who gives his all and approaches everything with great professionalism. I'm sure I can contribute a lot, both defensively and off the field. I know I can be very useful to the team. I'm truly motivated. Challenges create motivation, and I'm ready to help," said the defender.

Chilean Maldonado praised Flamengo's history and tradition and stated that he is ready to be one of the team's leaders.

"I'm very happy to be wearing this jersey. Flamengo is a club with a long tradition and has always won many titles. I will work hard to help Flamengo in this Brazilian Championship. The club doesn't deserve to be in this position it's in now. Flamengo has to fight for the title in every competition it competes in. Álvaro and I came to give strength and balance to the team. Furthermore, we can greatly help the young players. I'm here to help, and I'll give my all."

Learn more about Flamengo's signings, midfielder Maldonado and defender Álvaro.

Maldonado - Chilean Claudio Andrés Del Tránsito Maldonado was born in Curicó on January 3, 1980. He began his career in 1997 with Colo Colo in Chile, but it was in Brazil that he found his home. Throughout his career, the defensive midfielder won titles playing for São Paulo, Cruzeiro, and Santos. His greatest moment came with the Minas Gerais team, where he spent from 2003 to 2005. At Cruzeiro, Maldonado was part of the team that in 2003 won the so-called Triple Crown – Campeonato Mineiro, Copa do Brasil, and Campeonato Brasileiro. In 2006, he transferred to Santos, where he joined his father-in-law Vanderlei Luxemburgo's team, which would go on to win the São Paulo State Championship for the second time in 2006/07. Maldonado became known as a reliable defensive midfielder with refined technique, loyal to his opponents, and clinical in his ball stealing. In January 2008, the player signed with Fenerbahçe, where he was managed by Arthur Antunes Coimbra, also known as Zico. He remained in Turkey for a year and a half. \ \ Álvaro - At 31, the experienced defender Álvaro is another reinforcement for the red-and-black defense. Álvaro Luiz de Aquino was born on November 1, 1977, in São Paulo. The player, who excelled at Internacional de Porto Alegre, was discovered by São Paulo in 1997 and excelled at Goiás when he was called up to represent the Brazilian national team in the 2000 Olympics. He then played eight years in Spain, where he played for Las Palmas, Real Zaragoza, and Levante. In 2008, he returned to Brazil to play for Internacional, where he won the Copa Sudamericana.\