Vinicius Souza keeps Europa dream alive despite Corinthians lure
Vinicius Souza, a product of Flamengo's academy, revealed that he almost swapped his European career for a move to Corinthians after Wolfsburg's relegation, yet he chose to remain in Europa, citing a long‑term project promised by the German club.
Corinthians approach amid Wolfsburg’s drop
The São Paulo side emerged as the most concrete suitor during a period of uncertainty for the midfielder. At the time, Wolfsburg were grappling with relegation to the second division of the German championship, a setback that ended a 28‑year spell in the top flight.
Souza admitted that homesickness and the difficulty of adapting to a small German city weighed heavily on his mind. “Being in a small town, far from family, is very complicated. In December I thought a lot about at least being loaned, returning to Brazil for a breather and then going back to Europa in June,” he told 365Scores.
Wolfsburg’s counter‑offer secures his stay
Wolfsburg’s hierarchy intervened behind the scenes, presenting a long‑term plan that positioned Souza as the cornerstone of a rebuild aimed at regaining promotion. “They told me they would build a team around me,” he explained, adding that the club’s financial strength meant a sale would not be easy.
The final decision came just before the transfer window closed, with Souza praising the relationship with the board. “I should repay what Dieter Hecking has done for me. We sealed the deal two days before the window shut,” he said.
Souza’s contract runs until 2030, ensuring his stay in the German second division for the foreseeable future. He also highlighted his gratitude to Flamengo, noting eight professional appearances under Jorge Jesus and a deep respect for the club that nurtured him.
In a broader context, Flamengo have been navigating CBF’s new foreign‑player regulation, accelerating naturalisation processes for players such as Arrascaeta, Erick Pulgar, Rossi, Varela, De La Cruz, Saúl, Carrascal, Plata, Valencia and Joaquín Freitas – all the foreign‑born members of their squad.
Vitinha of PSG was recently linked to Flamengo and Jorge Jesus in media speculation, a reminder of the club’s high‑profile connections. The story was covered by Notícias and reported by Hudson Pereira for News, underscoring the continued interest in Flamengo’s talent pipeline.