Credit: Flamengo TV, Imago

Evan Lloyd

Tue 3 March 2026 15:43, UK

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Flamengo reportedly sacked Filipe Luis after discovering that he had been in negotiations with Chelsea’s owners.

The former Blues defender was extraordinarily dismissed on Tuesday, just hours after his side had beaten Madureira 8-0 in the Campeonato Carioca semi-final.

Flamengo had been beaten in successive finals recently, but the 40-year-old’s departure has come as a huge shock to the fanbase.

However, a new report has revealed that it was discovered that Luis had been in negotiations about potentially taking over at Chelsea’s sister club, Strasbourg.

Gary O’Neil was appointed by Strasbourg in January, after Liam Rosenior had left to take over at Chelsea.

Flamengo felt ‘deceived’ after Chelsea talks

Luis’ name was one already known to Chelsea from his playing days. The left-back spent a season at Stamford Bridge before returning to Atletico Madrid in 2015.

The former defender retired in 2023 and took over at Flamengo in 2024. His time in charge of the Brazilian club was very successful, such is the surprise at their decision to let him go on Tuesday.

But it appears that it was Chelsea’s attempts to involve him in the BlueCo club network that has led to his downfall.

Former Man City financial adviser Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider in January that Chelsea exploited the multi-club model to hire Rosenior.

And should talks to replace him with Luis have come to fruition, the Brazilian may well have been next in line for the job at Stamford Bridge.

Rodrigo Mattos told UOL News Esporte that the negotiations were discovered around two weeks ago.

“Bap [Flamengo president, Luiz Eduardo Baptista] discovered this two weeks ago, felt deceived, and the relationship, which already had cracks, became even more turbulent, which generates very little patience for bad results,” he explained.

Could Filipe Luis be set for move to Europe?

A move to English football currently looks unlikely for Luis. While the Brazilian’s tenure at Flamengo would have caught the attention of some Premier League clubs, he would likely need to be tested elsewhere first.

A move to a Spanish club may well be more on the cards, considering the former defender’s time there.

The 40-year-old has even been pegged as a potential eventual successor for legendary manager Diego Simeone at Atleti.

The 55-year-old has been in charge at the Wanda Metropolitano for 15 years, and is expected to eventually call time.