Jorge Jesus tells CBF cutting foreign slots won’t boost Brazil
Portugal's new national team boss Jorge Jesus has taken a stand against the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol's proposal to cut the number of foreign players allowed in the Brazilian league. Speaking at a press conference, the former Flamengo coach warned that reducing the quota from nine to five will not improve the quality of Brazilian football.
CBF's foreign‑player limit plan
The CBF intends to lower the maximum of foreign players that clubs can name for a match from nine today to eight in 2027 and ultimately to five by 2030. The current rule permits up to nine overseas players per side, a figure the federation says hampers opportunities for home‑grown talent.
A vote among Serie A and Serie B clubs on the last Monday saw the majority endorse the reduction, arguing it would open more slots for academy graduates. Reports differ on which clubs opposed the measure: some say Flamengo, Bahia and Londrina voted against, while others list only Flamengo and Bahia.
Jesus' criticism and defence of state leagues
Jesus told reporters that the problem is not the number of foreigners but the quality of formation and calendarisation in Brazil. “Não é o fato de o Brasil agora reduzir de nove estrangeiros para cinco… o problema é a formação, é qualidade de formação e calendarização,” he said.
He added that Portugal, a nation that consistently produces top talent, can field eleven foreign players if a coach wishes, yet still produces great Brazilian‑style players. “Portugal é um dos países que melhor forma jogadores e, em Portugal, se o treinador quiser, podem jogar com 11 estrangeiros,” he explained.
The Portuguese boss also warned against scrapping the state championships, calling them a secret to the development of Brazilian players. “O Brasil tem uma boa calendarização e não sabe. Espero que eles não acabem com os campeonatos estaduais, que isso é um dos segredos do crescimento do jogador brasileiro,” he said.
Jesus' own Brazilian experience includes a spell at Flamengo in 2019, where he guided the club to both the Libertadores and the Brasileirão titles. His familiarity with the domestic game gives weight to his comments on the youth‑development issue.
He made his Portugal debut on Thursday, leading the side to a 1‑0 victory over Wales at the Estádio José Alvalade. The team travel to Oslo on Sunday for a Nations League clash with Norway.
The comments were accompanied by a photo credit to Esporte News Mundo, and the outlet reminded readers that the opinions expressed belong solely to the interviewees.