GERSON SURGERY IS SUCCESSFUL! HALF WILL HAVE ASSISTED RECOVERY

The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.

The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.

During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term. 

Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.

Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.

Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.

In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.

The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement. 

In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.

One of the most criticized players amid Tite's Flamengo's poor phase, midfielder Gerson has experienced a month of resilience since returning to active duty, at the beginning of April, after surgery. The scar from the operation to correct a kidney problem bothered him during a game at altitude with Bolívar, and after being preserved against Botafogo, the number eight comes from three consecutive games.

In this sequence, he was one of the who had better physical performance against Bragantino, along with De La Cruz, despite the recent recovery process. Against Corinthians, on Saturday, the tendency is for no one to be spared, and for Gerson to once again be Tite's captain, who sees him as the main leader in the squad today.

The criticisms may even make sense given the fact The midfielder has not been decisive in the last few games and throughout the season, but his recent history is an important caveat with the coaching staff. Gerson was admitted to hospital on February 18th, underwent surgery at the beginning of March, and spent 21 days with a catheter in one of his kidneys. On March 25th, he returned to light activities.

Only on April 13th was he listed for the game against Atletico-GO, for the Brazilian Championship. Before that, he was out of action for 37 days, without any type of physical activity outside of Flamengo. In addition to the good numbers against Bragantino, Gerson has the best physical performance in the matches in which he starts. The lack of confidence, on the other hand, draws attention.

But in terms of distance covered, number of sprints and speed, number eight still stands out. So much so that it is maintained by Tite, given the absences of Pulgar and Arrascaeta.