Now! Jorginho lands in Rio to report to Flamengo

Atlético-MG is already working behind the scenes with a focus on the 2026 season and has begun mapping out opportunities in the transfer market. Among the names under consideration, Flamengo's Everton Cebolinha appears to be a top target . Coach Jorge Sampaoli is enthusiastic about the signing and considers the striker ideal for strengthening the attack.

Everton Cebolinha's contract with Flamengo runs until June 2026, but he's going through a period of uncertainty at Gávea. The player lost ground in Filipe Luís's squad during the season , fueling speculation about a possible departure. Despite this, the Flamengo board still considers him an important player and is unlikely to facilitate a possible release.

INTEREST OF ATLÉTICO-MG

Atlético-MG's desire to sign Cebolinha is real, but negotiations aren't likely to be straightforward. Since the striker's contract runs until the end of 2026, Flamengo is only likely to release him upon significant financial compensation. One option being considered would be a loan with salary-sharing or, as a last resort, waiting for the contract to expire and moving forward without transfer fees.

EVERTON CEBOLINHA IS A PRIORITY

According to information from journalist Lucas Tanaka, Sampaoli has already presented CIGA (Galo Information Center) with a list of desired reinforcements for 2026. The Argentine coach's priority is the offensive sector, and the arrival of key players is considered fundamental to making the squad more competitive next season.

OTHER CLUBS ALSO WANT TO

In addition to Atlético-MG, Everton Cebolinha has also been linked to Grêmio, the club that revealed him . However, the club's financial situation makes negotiations difficult. Santos, on the other hand, has expressed interest in forming a strike partnership with Neymar if they can secure the star's stay until 2026. Despite the inquiries, Grêmio appears to be the club most willing to invest in the signing.

Palmeiras announced that it will take legal action against Flamengo over the Rio de Janeiro club's freeze on a portion of the Brasileirão TV rights allocated to Libra clubs , via the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. Libra clubs are members of the Libra association, which includes Palmeiras, Bragantino, São Paulo, Santos, Atlético-MG, Bahia, Grêmio, Vitória, Remo, Paysandu, Volta Redonda, ABC, Guarani, Sampaio Corrêa, Brusque, and Flamengo itself. This information comes from the GE portal.

Leila Pereira on Palmeiras' lawsuit against Flamengo: "We will, indeed, seek compensation in court"

THE CASE

The injunction granted blocks the transfer of R$77 million, a percentage of audience revenue, according to a contract signed between Libra and Globo. Verdão president Leila Pereira criticized Flamengo 's stance and announced legal action .

"If Flamengo's current management believes that, through this lawsuit in Rio de Janeiro, they can change the agreement signed by President (Rodolfo) Landim, they can forget it. Palmeiras will not make any concessions or reopen a matter that has already been discussed exhaustively and is now closed," he stated.

"We will, indeed, seek compensation in court for the harm that Flamengo 's individualistic and predatory conduct is causing to Palmeiras and the other Libra clubs. Our lawyers are already studying the case. We will not accept the pressure Flamengo is applying ," he added.

Palmeiras accuses Flamengo of adopting a "predatory and vile" strategy, aiming to "financially suffocate" the league's other clubs , "subjugating them and extracting even more individual benefits." The São Paulo club emphasizes that it would be one of the direct beneficiaries if the change requested by Flamengo were to succeed, but defends the importance of the collective growth of Brazilian football.

FLAMENGO'S POSITION

Flamengo, in turn, claims to have been harmed by the contract signed in 2024, valid until 2029, during Rodolfo Landim's administration. The current board, led by Luiz Eduardo Baptista (BAP), seeks to review the distribution of funds within Libra , criticizing the contract's criteria even during the club's electoral process.

The rule in question involves the division of audience revenue, a criterion that determines how much each club should receive. According to Libra, the club's board's actions are eroding the group's harmony. The organization claims to be surprised, as the discussion was opened in previous meetings , and notes that in September, Flamengo's proposal was rejected, with the approval of a new criterion for dividing audience revenue.

Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a match valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be broadcast exclusively on SporTV (pay TV) and Premiere (pay-per-view), without being shown on open TV.

Coach Filipe Luís will have one confirmed absence: Erick Pulgar is recovering from surgery on his right foot and was not included in the match. Additionally, four players are suspended: Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Allan, and Arrascaeta. If they receive a yellow card against Cruzeiro, they will miss the matchday 27 match against Bahia.

SITUATION IN THE TABLE

Flamengo leads the competition with 54 points, closely followed by Palmeiras with 52. Cruzeiro is in third place with 50 points. The result of the match won't knock the Red-Blacks off the top of the table , but it could widen or narrow their lead at the top. Therefore, the match is being viewed as a true "six-point" match.

PACKED MARACANÃ

Maracanã will once again be at full capacity. All tickets have been sold, and the Nação Rubro-Negra (Red and Black Nation) is promising a huge party in the stands. Sales began on September 2nd, initially for members , with priority access and exclusive discounts. Later, on September 18th, sales opened to the general public.

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Flamengo: Rossi; Varela, Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira (Danilo) and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Saul and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino and Pedro.

Cruzeiro: Cassio; William, Villalba, Fabrício Bruno and Caíque; Cristian, Lucas Romero and Lucas Silva; Wanderson, Matheus Pereira and Kaio Jorge.