
Soccer
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One of the highlights of the Nova Iguaçu in Carioca, Yago has the DNA of an old acquaintance of Flamengo, opponent of the final. Loaned by Fluminense to the Série D team, the midfielder is the son of Iranildo, who was also a midfielder, state and Mercosul champion for the red-black club. Having also spent time at clubs such as Botafogo, Bahia and Santa Cruz, “Chuchu” – a nickname given by Romário precisely during the Rubro-Negro era – is his son's great advisor.
“My father is a guy I can count on for tips on how to hit the ball, positioning, the best time to pass. His phrase before games is always: 'have a good game and have fun on the field'", said Yago in a recent interview.
The player has one of the mirrors for the career that is being built in Iranildo. Born in 2001, he also has a common name for the generation as his idol. “My inspiration comes from my father. Everything he has achieved and his style of play motivates me a lot. And Messi, who has been my idol since I was young. I watched his videos every day, the moves, the dribbling... That woke me up to football”, he remembers.
The midfielder is at the third club of his career. Before, he was at Náutico and Fluminense, the club that revealed him. He was picked up by Tricolor scouts when he was playing in a match for Barcelona's academy, at the Zico Football Center (CFZ). The young midfielder is at Nova Iguaçu on loan from Fluminense – contract until the end of Série D, in September –, but the future is still unknown. Iranildo, who helps manage his son's career, recently commented on a possible return to Laranjeiras and cited “equal opportunities”.
The Baixada Fluminense club is analyzing a possible dismantling after the good performance at Carioca. Goalkeeper Fabrício is close to Internacional and striker Carlinhos closed with Flamengo. “Sometimes, I see some news or another, but all this off-field issues are my responsibility. I think more about the next game, I've always been like that. Now, after the return game, we will sit down and see the best way forward, to be able to have a good sequence of games and continue playing at the level I am at”, he stated. P>
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Mengão's decision to back down in negotiations for Mikey Johnston continues to have repercussions internally and on social media, among directors and influencers
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The issue divided opinions among fans and rekindled criticism of the board's stance, especially regarding the commitment to professionalism promised by Bap . On the one hand, some fans understood that the retreat was sensible. The internal evaluation, as determined, considered the player's minutes history, the intensity required by the Brazilian calendar and the playing style of the current squad. These factors, combined, indicated a high risk for a signing that would require immediacy.
However, the most critical wing of the fans sees the withdrawal as a sign of weakness. In their view, the board gave in to external pressure, contradicting the discourse of professionalism and technical autonomy that was one of the pillars of Bap's election. Amid the impasse, an old interview Bap gave to Flow Sport Club, given during the presidential campaign, gained prominence again.
The excerpt, which went viral on social media, features the director talking about the importance of scouts and criticizing the excessive weight of popular opinion. The most commented and shared statement was direct: “But we think that, because we watch 500 hours of football, we see and know more than the guys. We don’t.” The phrase summarizes the board’s point of view on how decisions should be made — with data, analysis and criteria, not based on popular clamor.
During the interview, Bap explained in detail how the scouting department works, revealing processes that go far beyond simply observing matches. They involve cross-referencing data, analyzing physical and psychological behavior, and adapting to the team's playing style. Without naming names, Bap said that Flamengo was considering signing a player, but that the analysts found that the player could only maintain intensity for two 30-minute blocks. After that period, he became slow and vulnerable — something that would make him unusable in high-demand games.
Although the president did not directly link this case to Mikey Johnston 's name, the explanation is interpreted by many as a well-founded justification for the recent decision. The club analyzed, considered and concluded that the signing did not fit the necessary profile. The director also highlighted the technological evolution in football, with software that compares performances and projects scenarios. For Bap, this allows the scout to see more than what the eyes capture in real life — and, therefore, they must have autonomy.
The company had acquired home field advantage for the match, transferring the game to Maranhão, with the promise of covering all of Flamengo's logistical costs.
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Flamengo has decided to go to court to collect a debt of R$587,354.00 from the company JJ Produções Eventos , responsible for organizing the match against Botafogo-PB, held on May 1st, for the third phase of the Copa do Brasil. In this sense, the company paid half of the amount to the red-black team.
The company had acquired home field advantage for the match, transferring the game to Maranhão , with the promise to cover all of Flamengo's logistical costs, including transportation, accommodation and other operational expenses.
The goal of the negotiation was to increase ticket sales, since the game, originally scheduled for João Pessoa (PB), was transferred to the Castelão Stadium in São Luís (MA). However, the agreement was not fully fulfilled. According to Flamengo , the club had spent R$887,000 on the match, but had only received R$300,000 in reimbursement so far. This left over half a million reais.
Mengão is closely monitoring the situation of the striker, who may leave the Saudi club in the coming days, despite the red-black interest; he rules out returning
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With the transfer market booming in the mid-year window, Flamengo is evaluating opportunities for reinforcements for the rest of the season. One name that has appeared on the club's radar is striker Malcom, formerly of Corinthians and currently at Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
According to recent reports, the player is reportedly leaving Al-Hilal. The possible termination of his contract has raised expectations among Brazilian clubs, including Flamengo, who are closely monitoring the player's situation.
Despite the interest from the red-and-blacks, a return to Brazil is not in Malcom's plans at the moment. According to journalist Jorge Nicola, the striker has other options in mind to continue playing abroad and may even remain in Saudi football. At 28 years old, Malcom is enjoying a good phase at Al-Hilal. An absolute starter in the 2024/25 season, he has played 30 matches, with 9 goals and 10 assists until May. In the previous season, he scored 15 goals in 31 games and provided 6 assists, numbers that reinforce his relevance in the Saudi squad.
One of the player's most visible moments was during the FIFA Club World Cup, held at the end of 2023. Even without the title, Malcom had outstanding performances and was one of the main names in the team managed by Jorge Jesus. Malcom arrived at Al-Hilal in 2023, at the request of coach Jorge Jesus, an old acquaintance of Flamengo fans.
The Saudi club invested around R$315 million (equivalent to 60 million euros) to take him from Zenit, Russia, making it the most expensive transfer in the history of the Saint Petersburg club. The partnership with Jorge Jesus made it easier for the striker to adapt, and he quickly established himself as a starter. With the possible end of his contract with Al-Hilal, Malcom's name has once again been mentioned among important directors in Brazil, including at Flamengo, where the former coach is still a respected figure.