Soccer
06 Jul 2024 | 07:17 |
0
Flamengo formed a midfield full of Uruguayan class this season, after signing Nicolás De La Cruz to form a partnership with Giorgian De Arrascaeta, a reference for the red-and-black team since 2019. However, in the Uruguay team , the two are competing for position, a dispute won by De La Cruz. This midfielder promises to raise the team's level, combining technique and game vision. Fans are eager to see this duo in action. Integration between them could be the key to Flamengo's new achievements.
The Uruguayans have in Nicolás De La Cruz, ex-River Plate, a fundamental pillar for their coach Marcelo Bielsa's team. Bielsa values intense movement and sees De La Cruz as an essential piece. The greater physical capacity of Flamengo's number 18 justifies his usual place among the Uruguayan team's starters. In addition to his physical strength, De La Cruz is very creative, a vital characteristic for the style of play proposed by Bielsa. This combination of skills makes him a complete and essential player.
The fixed tactical scheme with two wingers, Maximiliano Araújo and Facundo Pellistri, a center forward, Darwin Núñez, and two combative midfielders, Federico Valverde and Manuel Ugarte, allow space for just one attacking midfielder. In this scenario, De La Cruz manages to stand out. The team's priority is to put high pressure on the opponent's defense, favoring players with great physical capacity and mobility. De La Cruz fits perfectly into this strategy, earning coach Bielsa's preference.
At 27 years old, Nicolás De La Cruz is not only younger than Arrascaeta, 30 years old, but also has a more versatile playing characteristic. De La Cruz can play on the sides of the field or retreat as a midfielder, demonstrating “more lungs” on the field. In the current Copa América, he already has two assists, while Arrascaeta has just one. This versatility and physical resistance are attributes that make De La Cruz a natural choice for Uruguay's dynamic style of play.
Brazilian fans, accustomed to following Arrascaeta Since their time at Cruzeiro, they know that number 10 values less hustle and more about refined touches. Arrascaeta makes the ball flow and organizes the game with precision. At Flamengo, the team molds itself around him, allowing him to not have to spend so much time recovering the ball. This approach allows Arrascaeta to shine in offensive plays and maintain its high level of performance.
In Uruguay's dominant 2-0 victory over Brazil in October Last year, in the World Cup qualifiers, De La Cruz was a starter and also scored one of the goals. This performance reinforced his importance in the Uruguayan team and justified Bielsa's choice. De La Cruz proved to be decisive in big games, raising his international reputation. The victory over Brazil was an important milestone, consolidating confidence in his abilities.
Today, De La Cruz must continue leaving Flamengo's teammate, Arrascaeta, in the selection bench. This situation exemplifies the intense competition and quality that exists in the Uruguayan midfield. While De La Cruz stands out for his energy and versatility, Arrascaeta continues to be a key player at Flamengo. The dispute between the two players only enriches Uruguayan football, offering several tactical options for coaches. Flamengo, in turn, benefits from having two of the best midfielders in South America.
The midfielder, who was raised at Mengão, was loaned to Cruzmaltino by Crystal Palace and avoided talking about his former club during a press conference.
02 Set 2025 | 20:00 |
0
A recent highlight of Flamengo's youth academy, Matheus França was officially presented by Vasco this Tuesday (02). During the press conference in São Januário, the attacking midfielder avoided mentioning the name of the club that formed him , Cruzmaltino's biggest rival, and reinforced the total focus on the new team.
Flamengo product Matheus França at his presentation at Vasco: "Everyone knows about my beginnings at the rival club"
When asked about the pressure from his past at Gávea and the reasons that led him to choose Vasco, França preferred not to delve into the subject , focusing only on the conversations he had with those responsible for Cruzmaltino.
"Everyone knows about my beginnings at the rival club. But the most important thing is to focus here at Vasco, a big and important club. This was my choice, based on conversations with Diniz, Felipe, and Pedrinho . I'm grateful for the support and the conversations from the beginning. I don't feel any pressure. I'm a player who will give his all for Vasco , and that's what matters," he stated.
In July 2023, Crystal Palace signed Matheus França from Flamengo for €20 million (approximately R$104 million at the time), with bonuses that could have increased the fee to €30 million . However, the Gávea native's journey in England was marked by difficulties. The attacking midfielder suffered a series of injuries—to his groin, back, ribs, and thighs—that hampered his adaptation.
He was away from the field for 345 days, returning only in February of this year. During that time, he played 19 games, scoring one goal and providing one assist for the London club . Due to his limited use, Crystal Palace opted to loan him until mid-2026. The contract with Vasco does not include a purchase option.
Tricolor is already thinking about strengthening the squad for next season and has a Mengão player as the main target for the club's presidential candidate.
02 Set 2025 | 19:00 |
0
The transfer windows in Brazil and Europe close this Tuesday (02), but Grêmio still harbors the desire to bring back Everton Cebolinha , currently at Flamengo. Former Grêmio player Luís Mário, who now works as a football agent, revealed that the Rio Grande do Sul club plans to make the red-black number 11 the big signing of the next season. “ Marcelo (Marques)'s dream for next year, Grêmio's big signing, is Everton Cebolinha ,” said Luís Mário.
With the end of the window this Tuesday (02), the possibility of an immediate agreement is considered unlikely . Grêmio would only have a chance if they could achieve an amicable termination between Cebolinha and Flamengo , which would leave the striker free on the market.
Still, the Rio Grande do Sul club's plans are likely to be postponed until early 2026, when a new transfer window will open. Flamengo , for its part, has not ruled out negotiating the player , provided a profitable opportunity arises.
Everton Cebolinha is not in the best of times at Flamengo. The striker has lost ground under Filipe Luís and has played in just three of the last ten games , a period in which he scored a goal against Atlético-MG, his last for Flamengo.
In the 2025 season, he played 30 matches, scoring four goals, making 15 starts, and playing a total of 1,174 minutes. The arrival of Samuel Lino further reduced his opportunities , as the number 11 was not in good form.
Mengão beat Internacional in the Brazilian final that year, but the court granted Sport the chance to consider themselves champions.
02 Set 2025 | 18:30 |
0
Formed in the youth ranks of Flamengo , former player Leonardo spoke again about the controversy surrounding the 1987 Brazilian Championship title . For the current sports manager, there is no logic in considering Sport the champion of the edition, and the main person responsible for the confusion was the CBF itself.
Leonardo on Flamengo's 1987 Brasileirão title: "This CBF anomaly is a shame"
"No, no, with all due respect to Sport, but you know what? First, it's a shame that the CBF is so anomaly, that they don't recognize it and then they do [...] But I think at the time, they admitted they couldn't organize the championship . So, they gave Clube dos 13 the opportunity to organize the competition," Leonardo told Charla Podcast.
According to the former full-back, the Green Module brought together the country's main clubs, such as the 12 biggest clubs in Brazilian football , while the Yellow Module functioned as a kind of second division, with the country's most alternative teams.
" The Green Module brings together the country's top 20 clubs. The other, from 20th to 40th . Series A, Series B, man. Two champions emerge. Then they say they have to play a game to recognize the Brazilian title. Honestly, it's a bit of a... So, Flamengo —I don't want to say right or wrong—didn't show up for that game. Inter wouldn't show up either, São Paulo wouldn't show up, because they signed. Then Sport showed up and lost this game that never happened. And the debate continues to this day," he added.
That year, lacking the financial means to organize the tournament, the CBF authorized the Clube dos 13 to create the Copa União , contested by the country's 16 most prominent clubs, called the Green Module. However, the confederation later reversed its decision, creating the Yellow Module, and requiring a crossover between the champions of each module.
Flamengo and Internacional, the two best teams in the Green Module, refused to face Sport and Guarani, leaders of the Yellow Module. As a result, the Pernambuco team won by a landslide and was officially recognized by the CBF . Still, for much of the public, Flamengo 's title in the Green Module is seen as the true Brazilian Championship.
The former full-back was a starter on a star-studded team that included Zico, Renato Gaúcho, Bebeto, and Zinho. For him, the historic significance of the title goes beyond the legal dispute: " I think there should be official recognition and popular recognition . That, if we analyze it, is Zico's last title of the 1980s," Leonardo noted.
SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER
See previous
