🟥 Red light, goal light: Chelsea v Fluminense as a Squid Game episode

It's one of those oft-quoted stories that only football can write: João Pedro, recently signed by FC Chelsea and even traveled from his vacation for the Club World Cup, ensured with his gala performance in the semi-final that his long-time youth club missed out on a lot of prize money.

If you ask "ChatGPT" about this story, you even get a script for an episode of the cult series "Squid Game". Enjoy reading and also enjoy the third season!

Welcome to the next round!

Game rules:

• Pull a highly talented boy from your youth academy.
• Train him, feed him, invest time, sweat, and hope.
• Then sell him for 11.5 million euros to the best league in the world.
• Watch as he years later scores two goals against your team in the Club World Cup - and potentially costs you 70 million euros in prize money.

Do you lose? You're left with a warm feeling in your heart… and a freezing gap in your financial planning.

Do you win? Haha. You're Fluminense. You don't win.

Special rule: João Pedro is the child you raised - and the man who now destroys your budget.

The doll says: "Green light: Scouting. Red light: Emotions."

Elimination due to sentimental attachment: ✅ confirmed.

Anyone who still sells with heart now, doesn't understand the game.

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

📸 Buda Mendes - 2025 Getty Images