Flamengo have captured Olusola Ogundana on loan from Beyond Limits Academy and straight to their U20 squad with the possibility of a purchase at the end of the campaign.

During the Viarregio Cup 2022, a renowned amateur competition held yearly in Tuscany, Italy, which produced Obafemi Martins in 2002, Flamengo scouted the 18-year-old forward.

Olusola was one of the tournament’s star performers last year. He was an important member of his squad and helped them reach it to the final.

Flamengo sent a scout to Nigeria to observe Olusola play again after being pleased by his performance in the Viarregio Cup.

He did not disappoint as he was named the assist king with 10 assists in the 2022/2023 edition of the Championship.

According to Flamengo’s youth football vice-president, Vítor Zanelli, this is not an “adventure” but a process of opening up a new market to attract promising youngsters.

“He (Shola) comes with a signed contract. We believe in the potential of this market Just as we have mapped the entire Brazilian and South American market, we are starting to map the African market. We have to have a vision of the market and sports return. Our aim is to give titles and profit.

“We are not looking for an adventure in Africa, we are calmly putting together a project to consolidate this market as another one with potential for attracting customers. We are consolidating a continuous evaluation process for the athletes there. It will be another branch where we usually work,” said Zanelli.