Flamengo has invested more than twice as much as Palmeiras in signings since 2019

There is not much mystery in football: teams that invest more than others, at some point, win more. Palmeiras, which is an exception, has resisted this logic for five years and manages to maintain the same level of results as Flamengo.

The current transfer window takes the difference in investment history between the two teams to an emblematic level. With the signing of Gerson for 16 million euros (R$ 88.3 million at current quotation), the rubro-negro reached 145 million euros (R$ 800 million) in signings since 2019, more than double the amount spent for Palmeiras in the same period (70 million euros, R$ 386 million).

Even so, there are 11 titles for the cariocas in the period, including two Libertadores, two Brazilians and a Copa do Brasil, against seven from São Paulo, also twice champions of Libertadores, once of the Brazilian and once of the Copa do Brasil.

The history of achievements, even without such high investments, does not prevent the pressure on the Palmeiras board from being great at the start of the season. Abel Ferreira has already stressed the need to hire quality reinforcements. The fans, after the draw with São Paulo, sprayed paint on the wall of the headquarters demanding new players for the squad. President Leila Pereira resists.

“It’s not because Palmeiras sold very well that they have a lot of money in their pockets, which is not the case, that we’re going to spend,” said Leila, referring to the transfers of Gustavo Scarpa and Danilo to Nottingham Forest.

Impact signings like those that Flamengo accumulates since the beginning of Rodolfo Landim’s management were never a Palmeirense practice. The profile of the São Paulo board’s movements in the market has been different, aimed at younger and less established players.

What makes the difference in favor of Palmeiras, preventing the Cariocas from opening up a technical advantage, is the success in key decisions. First, with the choice of Abel Ferreira, in 2020. Flamengo, on the other hand, has already had five coaches: Rogério Ceni, Renato Gaúcho, Paulo Sousa, Dorival Júnior and, now, Vítor Pereira.

There is also the yield of less expressive signings in terms of repercussions, but which have offered results as good as the medallions of the red-black team. Important names in the last five years fit this profile: Luan, Zé Rafael, Raphael Veiga, Gustavo Scarpa, Rony.

This Saturday, the two teams that take turns at the top of football in the country will meet in the Supercopa do Brasil. The doubt that exists, and that can be resolved at Mané Garrincha, is about how long this sporting balance will be able to sustain itself.