The authorities of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro have announced the sale of the legendary Maracanã stadium in an attempt to cover part of their accumulated debt. The stadium, considered one of the most prominent sports landmarks in the world, has become an increasing financial burden on local authorities due to its exorbitant maintenance costs. With a rich history, Maracanã has hosted World Cup finals, Copa Libertadores, and Copa América matches, and for many years was the shared home of the city's two major clubs, Flamengo and Fluminense. The stadium hosted the Brazilian national team, the historical champion of the World Cup, and its name is linked to immortal football events, such as the 'Samba' team's loss in the 1950 World Cup final to Uruguay in front of their own fans. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, the Rio de Janeiro state government is seeking to sell the stadium for an initial price of 320 million euros as part of a plan to settle a portion of its massive debt to the federal government. The regional administration has described the sale as 'urgent,' not only for the expected financial return but also to reduce operational losses, with the stadium's operational cost estimated at around 160,000 euros per match. It has been reported that Flamengo and Fluminense are the main candidates to purchase the stadium, as both clubs currently use it as their primary venue for home matches. Flamengo has a project to build a new stadium in the next ten years, but the sale of Maracanã might alter its plans and give the club an opportunity to own the historic stadium. Meanwhile, Fluminense appears less inclined to move, as its current contract to use the stadium runs until 2044, while Flamengo is in negotiations with the city of Rio to terminate the agreement before that date.
