With a goal at the end, Fortaleza wins and falls into first place in the Brasileirão

The "official announcement" made by Flamengo last Tuesday (09) generated great repercussion. While the red-black fans celebrated the campaign to transform the club into a "symbolic UN Nation" , critics reacted negatively. Among them, journalist Arnaldo Ribeiro, who classified the movement as an expression of "club arrogance" .

On Wednesday (10), the official page of the Nação Sócio-Torcedor program responded with irony on X (old Twitter) : “ Good afternoon, 'Soberbos Clubísticos'. Have you called everyone to sign the petition? Zico set a target of 500 thousand. Let's go?”

The post quickly went viral, with Flamengo fans amused by the provocation. In the comments, messages of support for the mocking tone multiplied: " I loved the mockery, keep it up, " wrote one. Another added: "In Arnaldo Ribeiro's face. The Bad Guy is on another level."

WHAT DID ARNALDO RIBEIRO SAY?

Arnaldo Ribeiro on Flamengo's UN campaign: "This drives people apart, not closer together"

During an appearance on the pay channel BandSports, Arnaldo stated that he disagreed with Flamengo's actions . He believes the campaign gives the impression of superiority and could alienate fans of other clubs:

"This idea of feeling bigger than others... Club arrogance. I don't think it's measured solely by the number of fans . I never understand when a popular club takes this initiative, when it intends to separate itself and become something unique, not admired by others. It drives people apart, it doesn't bring them together," said the journalist.

FLAMENGO'S CAMPAIGN

The Flamengo proposal seeks to transform the club into the world's first recognized "Symbolic-Cultural Nation." Although symbolic, the goal is to enhance the global reach of the club's fans and engage Flamengo fans around the identity of their "Most Beloved." The process is participatory: any fan can support the cause by signing the digital petition at peticao.flamengo.com.br .

The success was immediate. In less than seven hours, the campaign surpassed 100,000 signatures , a number initially predicted for the weekend. As of this article's publication, the movement has already garnered over 445,000 supporters from the Red and Black community.

Guillermo Varela's injury , diagnosed as pubalgia, opened the way for Emerson Royal to regain his starting position at Flamengo. The right-back should start playing this Sunday (14), when Rubro-Negro faces Juventude , at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi, for the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship.

GRADUAL RETURN

Royal returned to action in the final minutes of the 1-1 draw with Grêmio at Maracanã, the final game before the FIFA World Cup. However, his last start was almost a month ago, on August 13, in the 1-0 victory over Internacional , also at Maracanã, in the Copa Libertadores, when he suffered a sprained left ankle.

Emerson Royal on his start at Flamengo: "I wasn't 100% ready to play"

Since then, he missed the next match against Inter at Beira-Rio and was subsequently named in the squad for two matches, but remained on the bench. In an interview with Flamengo TV, Royal admitted he wasn't yet 100% fit , but assured he would be ready after the recovery period:

"I'm now at Filipe's disposal. I was on the bench, but I wasn't 100% fit to play. It was a difficult time; I felt a lot of pain, and it was uncomfortable . But now I feel good and prepared. If Filipe needs me, I'll be ready to play a great game," the player declared.

WEIGHT REINFORCEMENT

Signed in the last transfer window for €9 million (approximately R$58 million) from Milan (ITA), Emerson Royal has only played five games for Flamengo . Among the mid-year signings, he has only been used more than Jorge Carrascal . Samuel Lino has become a regular starter, while Saúl has taken advantage of Pulgar's absence to gain some regularity.

SCENARIO IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Leading the Brazilian Championship with 47 points, three points ahead of second-place Cruzeiro and a game in hand , Flamengo is looking to extend its lead at the top of the table. The challenge, however, also involves a hurdle: the team hasn't beaten Juventude in Caxias do Sul for 28 years.

Flamengo is no longer in the running for the Copa do Brasil , but did not miss the opportunity to provoke a rival this Thursday (11). This is because Vasco, when releasing the official art for the classic against Botafogo, used a style very similar to the one that Mais Querido usually adopts in its publications.

The response came quickly: on Twitter , Flamengo's official profile commented: " I don't know if you noticed, but someone wants to be me ." The interaction went viral, and Flamengo fans flooded the post with provocations against their rival.

WHAT WAS COPIED?

The similarities caught attention: the visual style of the art; the phrases used in the publicity; even the font chosen was virtually identical to that used by Flamengo . The result was a wave of mockery from Flamengo fans , who reinforced the provocation initiated by the club.

CRUZMALTINE REACTION

Naturally, Vasco fans also appeared in the comments to respond, reminding that Flamengo has already been eliminated from the Copa do Brasil. However, the red-and-blacks made a point of highlighting the five titles won in the competition , including last year's, using the argument as a response to the rival's provocation.

NEXT GAME

While Vasco tries to continue the campaign to become more like Mengão, Mais Querido returns to the field on Sunday (14), at 4 pm (Brasília time), to face Juventude , at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, in Caxias do Sul, for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. Mais Querido seeks the first victory against Jaconero away from home since 1997, when with an own goal from Rodrigo Silva, managed to come out victorious.