Arrascaeta, from Flamengo, could become the player with the most Copa do Brasil titles

After a busy transfer window in which they managed to retain one of their top players, Fulham is preparing a reward for Rodrigo Muniz, a striker who emerged from Flamengo. The player is expected to receive a contract extension with a significant salary increase .

The decision by the board and coach Marco Silva is strategic: to protect the 24-year-old athlete after rejecting offers, including one from Atalanta , who will compete in the Champions League. According to the British website Give Me Sport (GMS), the Italian club showed strong interest, but the offer did not reach the asking price of £43 million (R$312.5 million), stipulated by the Londoners.

MUNIZ HAS A CONTRACT UNTIL 2026

Fulham is looking to expedite negotiations, as Muniz is in the final 12 months of his contract. Currently, the number 9 earns around £7,500 (R$54,500) per week , one of the lowest salaries in the first team. The board recognizes that the compensation no longer reflects the Brazilian's prominence.

The concern is to prevent the player from signing a pre-contract in January and leaving for free at the end of the season. To convince him to stay, the club guaranteed him a prominent role in Marco Silva's plans, which has been using him in the starting lineup.

GOOD PHASE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Last season, the former Flamengo player scored 11 goals and has already started the current campaign decisively, scoring the equalizer against Brighton in the opening round of the Premier League. Since then, he has started against Manchester United and Chelsea , cementing his place in the team.

With the transfer window closed, Fulham turns its attention to internal negotiations. Talks with Muniz's representatives are expected to begin in the coming weeks , with the board willing to offer a significant raise as a demonstration of confidence in the "Nest Boy"'s future.

A Rio de Janeiro champion with Flamengo in 2017, coach Zé Ricardo may be close to returning to the South American stage. He's participating in a selection process to take over Colo-Colo in Chile, a team whose star midfielder Arturo Vidal, who won the Copa do Brasil and the Libertadores with Flamengo in 2022, is among the highlights.

Zé Ricardo, ex-Flamengo, about Colo-Colo, by Arturo Vidal: "I participated in the first stage"

ZÉ RICARDO IS IN THE DISPUTE

Without a club since leaving Criciúma, Zé Ricardo has already advanced to the first stage of the selection process: "I participated in the first stage, which was the presentation of my resume. Then there was a cut, and only five remained. I was invited to give a presentation , which I did, and now we await the next stage, which is the proposal. I'm happy, because it's not easy: in Chile, there's no tradition of Brazilian coaches," he told the Chilean newspaper As.

If the deal goes through, the Brazilian will replace Jorge Almirón, formerly of Boca Juniors, who was dismissed in August: "Just being at this stage is a great honor. I have my fingers crossed. I know it's a difficult choice, because Colo-Colo is a great and traditional club," added Zé Ricardo.

TRAJECTORY: RISE AT FLAMENGO AND LATER CHALLENGES

Zé Ricardo experienced his initial peak at Flamengo , where he won the 2017 Carioca Championship and led the team to third place in the 2016 Brasileirão , returning the club to the Copa Libertadores after three years. However, the early exit in the group stage of the continental tournament brought intense pressure, culminating in his departure.

Since then, the coach has had stints at Vasco, Botafogo, Internacional, Cruzeiro, and other mid-tier clubs, without recapturing his early brilliance . Now, Colo-Colo presents a chance to regain his place at a continental giant. Vidal's Chilean club is the only one in the country to win the Copa Libertadores, in 1991.

2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo approved of how Xabi Alonso has handled his relationship with Vini Jr. at Real Madrid. In an interview with Betfair, the former player commented on the Spanish coach's decision to leave the Flamengo-born striker on the bench for the second round of La Liga against Real Oviedo .

Rivaldo on Xabi Alonso's action: "It was a strategy to get the best out of Vini Jr"

For Rivaldo, the decision wasn't a punishment, but rather a strategy to boost the number 7's performance: "I don't see it as a punishment. It was a strategy to get the best out of Vinícius . It's a way to make him grow even more ," the five-time world champion emphasized.

FIELD RESPONSE

Alonso's gamble quickly paid off. In the 3-0 victory over Oviedo, Vini Jr. came on in the second half and made his mark. In the following round, he found the net again against Mallorca , confirming his strong start to the season.

Rivaldo also praised the arrival of the new Real Madrid manager and his relationship with the Brazilian: " Xabi is a great coach, but he was also a great player . He knows exactly what someone like Vinícius thinks and feels. Sometimes you have to make adjustments, even with the stars," he concluded.

VINI JR'S PROMISING START

After ending last season below expectations, Vini Jr. started this season on a high note. In three La Liga rounds, he has two goals and one assist, contributing to half of Real Madrid's goals. Without being called up for the FIFA international break , the striker remained in Spain and remains focused on the rest of the season. The Merengues' next match will be on September 13th, against Real Sociedad, away from home, in the fourth round of the Spanish Championship.