Flamengo Accuses Cristiano Ronaldo's Almeria of Unpaid €1.8M Lazaro Transfer Fee

Brazilian football powerhouse Flamengo has publicly denounced UD Almería, the Spanish club partly owned by Cristiano Ronaldo, for an outstanding transfer fee related to Lazaro Vinicius. The fee, which Flamengo claims is nearly two years overdue, stems from Lazaro's move to the Andalusian side in 2022.

Almería initially agreed to a €7 million deal for Lazaro, a promising young forward from the Brasileirão. He joined the club at the close of the 2022 transfer window, spending 18 months in La Liga where he contributed to their successful relegation battle in his first season. Lazaro made a total of 58 appearances for Almería, scoring seven goals and providing one assist, though he struggled to secure a consistent starting position. In February 2024, he temporarily returned to Palmeiras in Brazil before moving to Al-Najma in Saudi Arabia for €5 million last summer.

Flamengo Alleges Deliberate Non-Payment for Lazaro

In a comprehensive statement, Flamengo asserted that a payment of €1.8 million for Lazaro's transfer to Almería has been outstanding for 590 days. The Brazilian club highlighted Cristiano Ronaldo's recent acquisition of a 25% stake in Almería from Saudi Arabian owner Mohamed Al-Khereji. Flamengo explicitly accuses Almería of intentionally hindering the payment through what it describes as "bad faith legal smokescreens." As a result, Flamengo has escalated the dispute to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to seek resolution.

While Cristiano Ronaldo's direct involvement in the payment dispute might be peripheral, his name undoubtedly amplifies the attention the issue receives. Given his significant investment in the club and his own substantial earnings in Saudi Arabia—which could cover the disputed fee many times over in a single week—Flamengo argues that any pretense of cash flow difficulties is unfounded.

Official Statement from Flamengo

Flamengo’s official communication on social media reiterated its firm stance:

OFFICIAL NOTICE

ALMERÍA OWES FLAMENGO NEARLY €1.8M FOR 590 DAYS

In February, the athlete Cristiano Ronaldo acquired 25% of the Spanish club

The Clube de Regatas do Flamengo publicly expresses its strong condemnation of the conduct displayed by the Spanish club UD Almería, owing to the breach of its contractual obligation regarding the transfer of athlete Lázaro, which occurred in August 2022. After 590 days of non-payment, the club has amassed a debt estimated at over €1.8 million, demonstrating a blatant disregard for signed commitments and the regulations governing international football relations.

The facts are clear and undeniable: there is an explicit contractual obligation making the Spanish club responsible for the payment or reimbursement of taxes applied in Spain. However, even after Flamengo was compelled to cover these amounts—exceeding €1.5 million—and following a formal FIFA decision fully recognizing its right to reimbursement, Almería continues to refuse to fulfill its obligation. The total debt, after 590 days of non-payment, now surpasses €1.8 million.

Instead, Almería has adopted a persistent stance of resistance, employing procedural resources primarily designed for delay, which clearly contradicts the principles of good faith, contractual loyalty, and integrity essential for relations between clubs in international football.

This is not an isolated breach but a conscious and deliberate pattern of postponement that undermines the legal certainty of contractual agreements in football and compromises the credibility of the system.

Flamengo trusts that the competent bodies, particularly the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), will provide an appropriate response to this behavior, ensuring compliance with decisions already issued by FIFA and adherence to agreed-upon commitments.

The Club remains steadfast in defending its rights and protecting the integrity of contractual relations in football, alerting and seeking a decisive reaction from clubs, entities, and regulators.

Clube de Regatas do Flamengo