Even with revenues that exceed the R$1 billion mark, Corinthians was unable to achieve the financial health that Flamengo has built in recent years.
For me, what is very alive today is that Corinthians had everything to be the most powerful team in Brazil, even more than Flamengo, although they have less fans. This is because Corinthians has, at its headquarters, many more fans than Flamengo has at theirs.
Juca Kfouri, to UOL
The scenario, however, was very different. Between 2009 and 2015, Timão established itself as the team to beat in Brazilian football, just a few years after relegation to Série B of the Brazilian Championship. During this period, it won the Libertadores and the Club World Cup in 2012, while its president, Andrés Sánchez, was seen as a model manager in national football.
On the other hand, Flamengo was going through a deep financial crisis. In 2013, red-black debt exceeded the R$800 million mark.
When Corinthians moved up from Série B, they were on fire. I went to restructure 100% independently, because there was no agreement to be a candidate for president. Everyone wanted to stay away from Series B. In football, when you make an agreement to win an election, you can’t govern.
With me, Corinthians has always been close to Flamengo, with Kleber Leite and Patrícia Amorim. My dream has always been to do business together, like selling broadcasting rights together.
Andrés Sánchez, to UOL
