Ancelotti says he would understand Vini Jr, former Flamengo, if he chose to go to Saudi Arabia

Flamengo beat Atlético-MG 1-0 last Wednesday (06), at Maracanã, but ended up eliminated from the Copa do Brasil after the draw on aggregate and the defeat on penalties. One of the penalty takers who wasted his chance was young Wallace Yan , who received public support from Matheus Gonçalves right after the game.

In a post on Instagram stories, Matheus, who also graduated from Ninho do Urubu, left a message of encouragement to his teammate: " We're together. Keep your heads up. We need you ," declared the number 20.

The two have played together since the youth teams and are seeking to establish themselves in Flamengo's professional squad. This solidarity demonstrates the group's unity in the face of a difficult time. Coach Filipe Luís and midfielder Jorginho also expressed their support for the striker.

WHAT HAPPENED TO WALLACE YAN?

Wallace Yan, a starter in the second leg, had the chance to decide the match. In the 36th minute of the second half, after a cross from Samuel Lino, the ball deflected off the defense and fell to the number 64, who nearly scored with a header . In the penalty shootout, however, the youngster ended up missing his shot—just like Samuel Lino—sealing the red-and-black team's elimination.

Wallace was also one of the protagonists of the match, due to his taunts and verbal exchanges with Atlético-MG players, which further increased the spotlight on his performance . Filipe Luís defended the player's character after the team's elimination from the Copa do Brasil.

WHEN IS FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME?

In search of emotional and sporting recovery, Flamengo returns to the field this Saturday (09), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), against Mirassol , at Maracanã, for the 19th round of the Brazilian Championship. The expectation is that Wallace Yan will continue to receive support from the cast and the coaching staff.

Michael's continued presence at Flamengo is increasingly uncertain. The 29-year-old striker, who has been underutilized by coach Filipe Luís, may be close to leaving the club. The arrival of Samuel Lino, coupled with stiff competition from Bruno Henrique and Cebolinha , has further reduced his chances in the squad.

Since the draw against Los Angeles FC on June 24th in the Club World Cup, the player has not returned to the field . And, after being left off the bench against São Paulo on July 12th, his future has been discussed behind the scenes at the Rio de Janeiro club.

AL ULA PROPOSAL IS EVALUATED

Flamengo recently received an offer from Saudi Arabia's Al Ula. The foreign club offered a one-year loan deal, with a payment of $2.5 million (approximately R$14 million) , plus the option to buy him at the end of the contract.

Despite the high prices, the club's board chose to reject the offer. This information was revealed by journalist Venê Casagrande, who noted that the negotiation model did not please the executives. Michael also expressed no interest in accepting the terms of the Saudi contract.

FLAMENGO CONSIDERS FAREWELL

Internally, Flamengo believes that releasing the player on loan does not meet the club's current sporting and financial objectives . Therefore, a permanent departure or another type of agreement could be reevaluated soon.

After recovering from an ankle injury, Michael was available again for the decisive match against Atlético-MG in the Copa do Brasil. However, he wasn't even included in the squad due to a technical decision. This scenario reinforces the idea that he could be released in the coming days.

Cruzeiro continues to monitor the situation of Matheus Gonçalves , a 19-year-old attacking midfielder who came through Flamengo's ranks . According to information released by journalist Thiago Fernandes, talks between the boards were already at an advanced stage, with an agreement to sell 50% of the player's economic rights for 3.5 million euros (approximately R$22.7 million).

However, after a strong negative reaction from the red-black fans on social media, the Rio de Janeiro club chose to withdraw from the negotiation , temporarily ending any possibility of a transfer.

CRUZEIRO STILL INTERESTED

Even with the suspension of negotiations, the Minas Gerais club remains interested. Raposa believes in the youngster's talent and believes he could contribute significantly to the current squad . However, sources close to Cruzeiro indicate that they will only resume talks if Flamengo reevaluates its position and agrees to resume negotiations.

NEGATIVE RECEPTION FROM THE FANS

The retreat came in response to a massive outcry from fans, who harshly criticized Matheus Gonçalves 's potential departure to a direct competitor on the national stage. Considered one of Flamengo's most promising young talents recently , the young midfielder is still seen as a player with significant potential for future appreciation.

In light of this, the board opted to preserve the asset and avoid further damage to the fans , who expressed dissatisfaction with the idea of negotiating the athlete while he was still in the technical development phase.