Hours after being selected to assume the position of head coach of the Brazilian national soccer team, Muricy Ramalho met with the directors of Fluminense to discuss his future on Friday, Xinhua reported.
The administration decided not to liberate the coach from his contract, keeping him in command of Fluminense. "The subject of our meeting was Ramalho's contract. He is a person who believes in fulfilling his contract and obligations. Fluminense has no intention of liberating him. We did not have to convince him of anything. It was a simple meeting as he promised to live up to his words," said Fluminense's vice-president, Alcides Antunes.
Ramalho met with the president of the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer, Ricardo Teixeira, earlier on Friday. The coach was surprised with the invitation to coach the national team and immediately accepted the calling.
However, Fluminense made it clear that they do not want to share the coach and divide his attention. Fluminense assumed first place of the 2010 Brazilian Championship on Thursday after beating Cruzeiro 1-0 and reaching 22 points.
Ricardo Teixeira and the Brazilian Confederation of Soccer have not yet commented on Fluminense's reaction to Ramalho's invitation.
Teixeira will certainly be disappointed and will likely have to head back to the drawing board immediately.