AC Milan considered Flamengo’s José Boto for sporting director role as Italy emerges as appealing destination

AC Milan also explored a Portuguese option during their search for a new sporting director. That profile was José Boto, currently sporting director at CR Flamengo. After spells with Benfica, Shakhtar Donetsk and PAOK Thessaloniki, Boto helped Flamengo return to the top in Brazil last season. The Rio de Janeiro club won the Brasileirão, the Campeonato Carioca, the Supercopa do Brasil and, most notably, the Copa Libertadores.

Flamengo also performed respectably at the Club World Cup, although their run ended in the last 16 with defeat to Bayern Munich. They also gave a decent account of themselves in the Intercontinental Cup, drawing 1-1 with Paris Saint-Germain before losing on penalties.

Over the recent period, Boto has brought several high-profile players back to Brazil, including Alex Sandro and Danilo from Juventus FC, and above all Lucas Paquetá from West Ham United in a deal worth around €41m.

“When you buy a player like that,” he said in recent weeks, “at the highest point and at the right age… He had the chance to continue in Europe and now he is here at Flamengo. We know we can compete economically with several clubs in Europe, but the player has to be convinced. If he does not intend to play in Brazil, it is very difficult.”

That is precisely why Milan considered him, before eventually deciding to pursue other routes. For José Boto, however, Italy would be an attractive destination should a club offer him a senior executive role.