
Soccer
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The troubled relationship between Flamengo's football vice president, Marcos Braz, and striker Gabigol has been one of the factors that contributed to the loss of control in the locker room and the crisis at the club. This rupture between player and manager originated in a discussion in July and intensified, culminating in the end of a dialogue that had been going on since 2019.
This situation reflects a gradual wear and tear that Marcos Braz has been facing, marked by bad phases and minor problems that added up. The relationship with Gabigol was especially important for the football deputy, as the player had influence over the group of athletes and acted as a communication channel between the board and the players.
However, the relationship with other leaderships in the squad was not equally positive, and there was an internal division that hindered the ability of Marcos Braz to exert his influence and power in the locker room. According to internal information, there is a consensus that the arrival of new commanding voices, including a professional executive, is necessary.
The promotion of Gabigol to shirt number 10 and captain, carried out by president Rodolfo Landim, had with the intention of reinforcing the influence of the board in the management of the locker room. However, this strategy was unsuccessful, and Gabigol was unable to exercise an effective leadership role both inside and outside the club.
In this context, Flamengo's board is considering hiring a new executive to perform a more active role in the club's overhaul, which is planned for later in the season. In addition, the departure of Marcos Braz before the end of Landim's term, which occurs next year, has also been discussed as a possibility.
Even though he has recovered from his knee injury, Lucas Moura will not face Mais Querido this Saturday (13th round of the Brasileirão) as he is still following a physical schedule.
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São Paulo will have an important absence in the match against Flamengo this Saturday (13), at Maracanã, at 4:30 pm. Although he was expected to return to the team , Lucas Moura will remain out of action. According to the club, the attacking midfielder is still under physical preparation care, despite being clinically recovered from a knee injury.
Lucas Moura hasn't played an official match since May 6th . Although his knee problem has been overcome, the medical department and coaching staff understand that he still needs more time to regain physical conditioning before returning to action. Therefore, his return to action for the São Paulo team will remain postponed.
In addition to the absence of the number 7, São Paulo will be without Lucas Ferreira (with hip pain), Luciano, Luiz Gustavo, and Calleri, all ruled out by the medical department. The match will also mark Hernán Crespo's return to the team , precisely against the league leaders, in the return of the competition after the Club World Cup.
The São Paulo team's likely starting lineup features significant changes. Crespo is expected to field Rafael; Arboleda, Alan Franco, and Sabino (or Ferraresi); Cédric, Alisson, Bobadilla, Marcos Antônio, and Enzo Díaz; Oscar (or Juan Dinenno), and André Silva. Among the confirmed returns to the squad are Marcos Antônio, Ferreirinha, and Oscar, who have been sidelined since early June.
The match between São Paulo and Flamengo will be held at Maracanã Stadium at 4:30 p.m. this Saturday, part of the 13th round of the Brasileirão. For the Rio de Janeiro club, the match represents a chance to maintain its lead in the standings. Broadcasts will be available on free-to-air channels and streaming platforms.
Even without a guaranteed presence in the starting 11, Gabriel has been praised by the board for his commitment and commercial impact.
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Signed with star status, Gabigol is still seeking regular starting positions at Cruzeiro. Unlike what he became accustomed to during his years as a star player at Flamengo, the striker is currently in a transitional phase. Even though he's not a regular in the starting eleven, he's been touted as an important player in Leonardo Jardim's project.
Pedro Junio, vice president of the Minas Gerais club, emphasized in an interview with the program Donos da Bola that the number 9 did not disappoint. According to the director, the striker has fulfilled everything agreed upon at the time of his signing, both on the field and in marketing. " He delivers everything we agreed on, both in the sporting and commercial and marketing aspects . Gabriel was a package deal we signed, and he delivers," he noted.
Since arriving at Toca da Raposa, Gabigol has started 11 matches, initially under Fernando Diniz and later under Leonardo Jardim. Following the 1-1 draw with São Paulo on April 13th, in the third round of the Brasileirão , the striker has lost his place in the starting lineup. Even so, management emphasizes that there is no dissatisfaction or bad blood behind the scenes.
" Cruzeiro's advantage is that everyone understands that Cruzeiro is the top priority. Regardless of who's playing or not," explained Pedro Junio, highlighting the positive internal atmosphere at the club and the players' maturity in accepting coaching decisions.
Despite recurring speculation that he's unhappy about not being a regular starter, Gabigol has publicly expressed his composure about this new phase. After the 2-0 victory over Vila Nova on May 1st in the Copa do Brasil , the striker addressed the issue directly.
" I'm very calm about it. I know the pressure there is , and there are a lot of people who say things without realizing it. I try to work hard, show my football skills on the field," he said. On that occasion, the striker also highlighted the welcome he received at the club and reinforced his desire to continue contributing.
With the Brasileirão leadership at stake and Maracanã expected to be full, Mengão hosts the São Paulo team this Saturday (12), at 4:30 pm, for the 13th round
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Flamengo returns to the national stage this Saturday (12), after a stint at the Club World Cup, with full focus on the Brazilian Championship. The team led by Filipe Luís leads the table with 24 points, despite having played one game less, maintaining the best attack and the tightest defense in the competition so far. The ball rolls at 4:30 pm, at Maracanã, with broadcast on TV Globo and Premiere.
Flamengo will be without midfielder Erick Pulgar, who suffered a fractured right foot, and Pedro, who was sidelined by Filipe Luís . This will also be the first match without Gerson, who recently left the club to Zenit in Russia.
On the other side, São Paulo is undergoing a period of restructuring. After a 3-1 loss to Vasco and the departure of Luis Zubeldía , the club has decided to bring back Hernán Crespo as coach. The São Paulo team will have important reinforcements who recovered during the break: Lucas Moura, Oscar, Marcos Antônio, and Ferreirinha are available again.
The red-and-black fans promise to once again fill the stadium. As of last Thursday (10), more than 46 thousand tickets had already been sold. With the removal of free tickets, the expectation is that around 60 thousand fans will attend Maracanã to support Mengão in its search for three more points.
📆 Date: July 12 (Saturday)
🕓 Time: 4:30 pm (Brasília time)
📍 Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)
📺 Broadcast: Globo and Premiere
👤 Referee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio (GO)
👥 Assistants: Bruno Boschilia (PR) and Bruno Raphael Pires (GO)
🎥 VAR: Braulio da Silva Machado (SC)
Probable lineups:
Flamengo : Rossi; Wesley, Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho and De la Cruz; Luiz Araújo and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.
Sovereign: Rafael; Sabino, Ferraresi and Alan Franco; Cédric Soares, Alisson, Marcos Antonio, Oscar and Enzo Díaz; Luciano and André Silva.