Starring role, fitness and national team: Flaco Lopez meets Palmeiras’ plan | OneFootball

The call-up of Flaco López to the Argentine national team is the culmination of a carefully planned process by Palmeiras. Since arriving at the club in 2022, the forward has gone through different stages of adaptation and development, focusing on physical, technical, and mental evolution. Now, experiencing his best moment in Brazilian football, the striker has not only secured an absolute spot in Verdão but has also achieved the ultimate goal of any South American player: wearing his national team's jersey.

Palmeiras' planning was strategic. Initially, the club treated Flaco's arrival as a medium to long-term investment, as the player came from a different context at Lanús and was not accustomed to the level of intensity required in Brazil. The physical preparation department worked gradually, aiming to increase strength and endurance without losing the attacker's characteristics. Today, the increase in the player's power is visible, as he previously struggled a lot with the 'battles' on the field.

On the field, his prominence came naturally. Once seen as an alternative to Rony, Flaco firmly took on the starting position and became a central piece in Abel Ferreira's system. His goals and assists became decisive in big games, and the synergy with Vitor Roque further enhanced Palmeiras' offensive weight. They have been nicknamed by the fans as the 'Bebeto and Romário of Barra Funda.'

Flaco's call-up to Argentina is also a message to the market. Palmeiras demonstrates that its athlete appreciation project is not limited to homegrown talents but also applies to signings that find an ideal environment for growth at the club. For the player, it is a chance to prove he can be useful to Lionel Scaloni in a cycle that is narrowing towards the 2026 World Cup.

With high confidence and a protagonist status at Verdão, López joins the national team at his peak, experiencing a great phase alongside Vitor Roque in Palmeiras' attack. More than a personal achievement, the call-up is proof that Palmeiras' planning succeeded: transforming a young striker into a technical and physical reference, and now, into a national team player.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.