The financial details of the deal were not made public but the fee is reported in the Spanish media to be in the region of £3.6m. The 29-year-old Gamarra arrived at Atletico last year from Brazilian club Corinthians after being trumpeted as one of the world's best defenders.

But he failed to make an impression at the Madrid club, who finished the season being relegated to the Second Division. Gamarra will team up at Flamengo with another expensive refugee from a relegated Spanish team.