Flamengo confirm departure of Rafinha to Olympiacos

Brazilian champions Flamengo have officially confirmed that Rafinha has parted ways with the club to join Olympiacos in the Greek Super League.

The 34-year-old was contracted to the Rio de Janeiro outfit until June 2021, but there was a clause which allowed him to leave the club for free for a foreign team.

He has now taken up the challenge with Greek champions Olympiacos where he is expected to put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal on an improved financial package.

Rafinha spent only 13 months with Flamengo, but he has definitely left a huge mark on the club’s history after playing his part in the success under former boss Jorge Jesus.

He joined the club from Bayern Munich on a free transfer last summer and was a regular on the right side of the backline as they went on to win the Serie A and Copa Libertadores double.

Flamengo became the first Brazilian side since Santos in 1963 to achieve the feat and they have since won the Supercopa do Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana and Campeonato Carioca titles.

Earlier last month, Jesus ended his association with the club to return to Portuguese giants Benfica and that may have contributed to Rafinha’s decision to move on.

Rafinha made 46 appearances for the capital outfit during his 13-month stay. He won 34 matches for the Mengao and suffered only five losses in the process.

Two of those defeats came under new head coach Domenec Torrent this month. Flamengo have made an inauspicious start to the new league season with just three points accumulated from as many matches.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com