Presidential candidate reveals desire to renew Gabigol at Flamengo

Striker Michael is back in the spotlight behind the scenes in Brazilian football. According to information from journalist Julio Miguel Neto, the player, who is currently a starter on the team led by Filipe Luís, has been attracting interest from Brazilian clubs and has recently received inquiries about a possible transfer. The Mais Querido, in turn, has not ruled out the player's departure. The board believes that, given an offer considered advantageous and with the guarantee of a replacement in the offensive sector, the negotiation can move forward. The high cost of Michael's contract, which includes a hefty salary and bonuses, also weighs on the balance.

DECISION DEPENDS ON A SUBSTITUTE IN ATTACK

Despite the behind-the-scenes moves, Rubro-Negro is being cautious. The priority, at this moment, is to find a viable replacement before making any definitive decision about the possible release of the striker. The board understands that letting go of Michael without having an alternative ready could weaken the squad in a decisive phase of the season . The search for a new winger is not new. It is a long-standing desire of the board, which has been monitoring options on the market to strengthen the sector. Michael's possible departure could even accelerate these conversations and moves.

MICHAEL GAINS SPACE WITH FILIPE LUÍS

With the arrival of Filipe Luís as coach, Michael has once again gained prominence. The striker has started the last three matches and has been one of the important players in the new coach's scheme. His speed and ability to unbalance one-on-ones are characteristics valued by the coaching staff.

This good moment, however, does not prevent the club from evaluating possible proposals. The board's idea is to maintain the financial and structural balance of the squad, avoiding the accumulation of players with heavy contracts and seeking to maintain the competitiveness of the group. Michael returned to Rubro-Negro surrounded by expectations after a stint in Arab football. Although he did not have the same initial impact as in his first stint, the striker has shown commitment and has been increasing in production under the new coaching staff.

His constant presence among the starters shows that, at least for now, he has Filipe Luís ' trust. However, the player's future remains uncertain and will depend on the club's next moves in the market. The names of the interested clubs have not been released yet, but the domestic market is keeping an eye on Michael's situation. With increasingly scarce characteristics in Brazilian football, the player becomes an attractive piece for teams looking for a winger with speed and decision-making power.

A key player in Filipe Luís ' team, Gerson is currently the most valuable player in the red-black squad. According to data from the Transfermarkt website, Flamengo's "Joker" is valued at 25 million euros, a value that, alone, exceeds that of the entire LDU squad , the Mais Querido's next opponent in the Libertadores.

According to the same source, the 25 players of the Ecuadorian team together have a total value of 20.8 million euros , a lower value than that of the number 8 of the red-black team. The comparison makes clear the financial distance between the teams that face each other this Tuesday (22), at 7 pm, in Quito.

FLAMENGO HAS A SQUAD 10 TIMES MORE VALUABLE

Flamengo's group is valued at 219.15 million euros , which is about 10.5 times higher than the Quito team. And Gerson is not the only one who, individually, exceeds LDU's value. Striker Pedro, for example, is valued at 23 million euros , almost 3 million more than the Ecuadorians as a whole.

EIGHTEEN FLAMENGO PLAYERS OUTPERFORM THE MOST VALUABLE LDU PLAYER

LDU's most expensive player is Paraguayan striker Álex Arce , valued at 4.8 million euros . This number is even lower than the value of Matheus Gonçalves , a young promise from Mengão, who costs 5 million .

In addition to him, other names such as Allan , Luiz Araújo , Evertton Araújo , Erick Pulgar , Michael , Gonzalo Plata and even goalkeeper Rossi have higher values than Arce. In total, 18 players from the red-black squad surpass the Paraguayan in market value.

Arce is worth more than only the following Flamengo athletes: Danilo , Matheus Cunha , Wallace Yan , Juninho , Alex Sandro , Varela , Bruno Henrique , Pablo , Cleiton , Dyogo Alves , Zé Welinton and Caio Garcia .

INEQUALITY IS NOT A GUARANTEE OF VICTORY

Despite the financial difference, the clash in Quito requires caution. Flamengo has already been surprised in this edition of the Libertadores by an opponent with a much more modest squad: Central Córdoba , who beat the Rio de Janeiro team 2-1 at Maracanã, in their international debut.

Therefore, while the disparity in values shows what the club has built in recent years , on the other hand, it also increases the pressure and responsibility for good performance. After all, money doesn't matter on the field, but it's impossible to ignore the weight of the investment when the ball is rolling.

Flamengo in double dose this Tuesday (22) . Libertadores Day, in the match against LDU, at night (7pm), at the altitude of Quito, capital of Ecuador. Before Arrascaeta and company, however, there are Garotos do Ninho on the field in the first leg of the semifinals of the Under-17 Copa do Brasil , against Vasco, this Tuesday (22), at 4pm, at the Luso-Brasileiro Stadium, on Ilha do Governador, with broadcast by Sportv.

RED-BLACK PATH

Flamengo eliminated Internacional-RS after two draws in the quarterfinals. The first game, in Porto Alegre, ended 2-2, with Ryan Roberto and Jhefinho scoring for the Red-Blacks. The dramatic qualification came in Gávea with another draw, this time 1-1. Mengão opened the scoring, was ahead for most of the game and ended up conceding a goal in the 45th minute of the second half. In the penalty shootout, goalkeeper Werneck, in a heroic performance, shone with three saves.

SEASON SO FAR

The year has been very good for Flamengo's under-17 team , led by coach Daniel Franklin, who has yet to lose this season. Rubro-Negro has a 100% record in the Carioca, with six wins, and is coming off a 1-0 victory in the Fla-Flu match, played last Saturday in Xerém, with a goal by Kaio Gomes. In the Copa do Brasil, there were three wins and two draws.

Vasco faced Mazagão, from Amapá, and advanced to the semi-finals with relative ease. They won 3-1 in Macapá and sealed their spot with a 5-0 win at the Nivaldo Pereira Stadium, known as Nivaldão, in Nova Iguaçu.

Flamengo x Vasco

Under-17 Brazil Cup - semi-final

Date: 04/22/2025

Time: 4pm

Location: Luso-Brazilian Stadium - Governor's Island