
Soccer
23 Jul 2025 | 12:44 |
Tuesday (22) was busy at Flamengo after the leak of a message in which José Luiz Runco , head of the club's medical department, stated that De La Cruz has a chronic problem in his right knee and that those interested in signing him would not be targeting him for competitive football. Mais Querido then released an official statement this Wednesday (23) where it states that the doctor does not work directly in football.
José Luiz Runco was hired by Flamengo to standardize the club's medical procedures, encompassing all of the club's sports, and he has no direct contact with the players. The doctors currently treating Flamengo's football team are : Fernando Sassaki (orthopedist and head of the department), Luiz Macedo (cardiologist), Dieno Portella (orthopedist), Vitor Pereira (orthopedist), and Bruno Hassel (radiologist).
CHECK OUT FLAMENGO'S NOTE IN FULL
“The Football Board of Clube de Regatas do Flamengo clarifies that the recently leaked message was not written by any of the five doctors who make up the professional football department : Fernando Sassaki (orthopedist and head of the sector), Luiz Macedo (cardiologist), Dieno Portella (orthopedist), Vitor Pereira (orthopedist) and Bruno Hassel (radiologist).
As is public knowledge, these professionals are responsible for providing daily assistance to athletes during training, games and travel, in addition to constantly and transparently providing all information of interest to the press and fans.
The Football Board reiterates that it will not comment on speculation and will maintain its focus solely and exclusively on preserving the high level of performance and concentration that led the Club, in this first half of the year, to the best performance among all in the national scenario.
Flamengo will continue to work seriously, pursuing its sporting goals, taking technical care of the health of its athletes, investing in a high-level team and strengthening its squad with national team-level players ,” the club wrote.
DE LA CRUZ REACTED NEGATIVELY
Nico De la Cruz's staff responded strongly after a message attributed to José Luiz Runco, Flamengo's head of medical department, regarding the player's medical condition was leaked. In an official statement, the Uruguayan's representatives called the action unethical and promised to evaluate the appropriate measures .
"We were taken aback by this statement from the club's Medical Director. Firstly, it's neither correct nor ethical for a professional who has played for the national team. We will seek to understand with the club whether this stance is personal or institutional , and then we will analyze the appropriate measures," the statement reads.
Mengão draws goalless with the Minas Gerais team at Maracanã in a game marked by an expulsion, good saves by Cássio and a balanced Brasileirão
02 Out 2025 | 22:29 |
Flamengo hosted Cruzeiro this Thursday (2), at Maracanã, for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship, and the duel ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite the chances created, especially in the second half, goalkeepers Rossi and Cássio were protagonists and ensured the score was zero.
Flamengo started with more possession and offensive pressure, but couldn't convert their dominance into goals. Cruzeiro, on the other hand, leveled the scoreline and created the best chances of the first half , with Kaio Jorge and Christian both being saved by Rossi . The red-and-blacks' best chance came from Arrascaeta's header that went just wide of the post.
The game picked up in intensity in the second half, with both teams pushing forward more. Flamengo nearly opened the scoring with shots from Samuel Lino, Plata, and Carrascal , but Cássio made crucial saves to keep Cruzeiro in the match.
In the 37th minute, right-back William received his second yellow card for a foul on Bruno Henrique and was sent off , leaving the Minas Gerais team with ten men. Even so, the Rubro-Negro team was unable to capitalize on their numerical superiority.
The referee handed out several cards throughout the 90 minutes. Fabrício Bruno and Kaio Jorge were cautioned, while Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, and Carrascal also received yellow cards for Flamengo. The match was marked by complaints, strong tackles, and penalty calls ignored by VAR.
With the draw, Flamengo reaches 55 points and remains atop the Brazilian Championship, keeping a tight lead over Palmeiras, who sits in second place. Cruzeiro, meanwhile, reaches 51 points and remains firmly in the race for the top spots.
The coach was close to returning to Mengão at one point, but the club's rush resulted in the hiring of another professional
02 Out 2025 | 21:00 |
An idol among Flamengo fans for his historic work between 2019 and 2020, Jorge Jesus still dreams of returning to manage Flamengo . This information was revealed by Kleber Leite, the club's former president and a personal friend of the coach. According to him, the coach would accept an offer to return to the club.
In an interview with Canal Mundo GV, hosted by former goalkeeper Getúlio Vargas, Kleber revealed that Jorge Jesus was very close to re-signing Flamengo in 2021, following Renato Gaúcho's departure. At the time, Flamengo's board traveled to Portugal to negotiate directly with the coach . A meeting was even held, but after asking for time to decide, Jesus decided to sign Paulo Sousa.
"He could have been at Flamengo a long time ago. (...) You know that story about you running to avoid getting there? Flamengo ran to avoid getting there. They didn't want to, actually, that's it. (...) I have no doubt that Jesus would accept an offer from Flamengo . Here or even with the Brazilian national team, where they also lost their chance. He was the coach at the time," declared Kleber Leite.
Jorge Jesus achieved impressive numbers with Flamengo. In 58 games, the Mais Querido under his command achieved 44 wins, 10 draws and only four losses, an 81.6% success rate . Under his command, the Rubro-Negro won the following titles: Libertadores (2019), Brazilian Championship (2019), Brazilian Super Cup (2020), Recopa Sudamericana (2020) and Campeonato Carioca (2020).
With more trophies than defeats, Jorge Jesus made his mark at Flamengo, leading the team to its peak under the brilliance of the quartet formed by Gabigol, Arrascaeta, Everton Ribeiro and Bruno Henrique and still having his name on the lips of the red-black fans.
Mengão faces Raposa at full strength at Maracanã, in a direct duel for the leadership of the Brasileirão and Gabigol's reunion with the Minas Gerais team
02 Out 2025 | 19:25 |
Flamengo takes to the field this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, to face Cruzeiro in a direct duel for the leadership of the Brazilian Championship. The match opens the 26th round of the competition and will have a full house, with tickets sold out.
After resting some players in the victory over Corinthians, coach Filipe Luís opted for a full-strength squad . Ayrton Lucas returns from suspension, while Matías Viña and Léo Pereira, cleared by the medical department, are available.
The Rubro-Negro formation for the match is: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Saúl and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata, Samuel Lino and Carrascal.
Flamengo leads the Brazilian Championship with 54 points, trailing Cruzeiro with 50 and Palmeiras, who beat Vasco 3-0 and have 52 points. The match at Maracanã is considered a "six-point" game , which could either increase or reduce the advantage at the top of the table.
In addition to the battle for the top spot, the match marks Gabigol's reunion with his former club. Currently at Cruzeiro, the striker will face the Flamengo fans, who idolized him during his time at the club between 2019 and 2024. Gabigol left Flamengo after a year of ups and downs, ending a run full of goals, titles, and a strong connection with the club.
Flamengo advances in negotiations to renew Arrascaeta's contract until the end of his career
02 Out 2025 | 14:17