RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — When Marília de Barros Silva heard reports that the widely popular Brazilian soccer club Flamengo was signing a player for almost 17 million euros ($18.6 million), she felt sadness — but also resentment.

For a year, she has been trying in vain to reach a settlement with the Rio de Janeiro club after her teenage son Arthur Vinicius died in a fire that engulfed his dormitory at the team's academy for young players.

De Barros Silva says she was incredulous over the amount being paid for the team's new star. She says it dwarfs the amount that she and the public defender's off...