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The provocation was always present in the confrontation between Flamengo and Peñarol in the Libertadores. According to the president of the Uruguayan club, Ignacio Ruglio, midfielder Javier Méndez was never worried about the number of players that Rubro-Negro signed before the clash. Mais Querido was reinforced with Michael, Plata, Alex Sandro and Alcaraz.

“A few days ago, it was announced that we would face Flamengo, and every day there was a new signing. Talking to him, I said: ‘Javi, these crazy people bring in a new player every day’. And he said to me: ‘Let them bring Messi. They have no chance against us. They won't win here or there,'” Ruglio revealed to the local press, after Peñarol eliminated Mengão on Thursday night (27).

The president also criticized the volume of signings from the Flamengo in 2024 and highlighted that Peñarol brought the right players for the season.

“Flamengo brought 10 players for 20 million dollars, but they didn't fit. Ours have been on the field for six months. We repeated that we had a club in order and with a good squad, but they told us: ‘But who else are they going to bring?’. It hasn't been valued in the right way and they're seeing the results now”, concluded Ignacio.

Afterwards 51 years old, Botafogo returns to a Libertadores semifinal and will face Peñarol, the team that eliminated Flamengo. It is worth mentioning that during the season, Rubro-Negro played against the future opponent of the Uruguayans three times: two defeats (2-0 and 4-1 – Brasileirão) and one victory (1-0 – Carioca).

This Friday (27), the Flamengo issued an official statement to members to detail some information about the election of the Deliberative Council. Slates can be registered until December 10th, the day after the club's presidential election. Date that will allow Rodolfo Landim to run for CoDe if Rodrigo Dunshee is not elected president of the club.

The vote will take place on December 16th, a Monday, from 8am to 9pm, at< a href="http://flamengo.com.br" target="_blank"> Gávea, Flamengo's headquarters. Registration for tickets begins next Monday (30th) and runs until December 10th. In other words, it will take more than two months for interested parties to apply. Landim, however, will have one day to register if necessary.

In his second and last term as president of Flamengo, the president has already admitted that his objective was to be the next president of the Deliberative Council. However, following an invitation from Rodrigo Dunshee, he decided to accept being the next CEO in the event of victory in the election. An important maneuver for the campaign of the current General and Legal VP.

The red-black partners will go to Gávea to define the president for the next three years on December 9th. Today, the scenario is a fierce dispute between Dunshee, Luiz Eduardo Baptista (Bap) and Maurício Gomes de Mattos (MGM). In addition to the trio, Wallim Vasconcellos, Delair Dumbrosck and Pedro Paulo are also running for the election.

Therefore, the victory of someone other than Dunshee could make Landim run for the Deliberative Council. The president will need to complete the registration of his ticket in one day. And if it happens, he will certainly be the favorite to win. Furthermore, signed by President Antônio Alcides, the CoDe statement talks about the processes after the formalization of the tickets and the requirements for candidacy.

Landim explained the duties he will have as CEO of Flamengo

If elected, Rodrigo Dunshee's objective is to have Landim in charge of projects that he himself initiated, such as the Flamengo stadium, and he explains that it is a position focused on the administrative side, where he will also focus on improving the processes that take place at the club today.

“Today the CEO It's Reinaldo Belotti. He works discussing all subjects. It takes on the most administrative burden and relieves me a little of the dissuasions and processes. This is important to free up more time for the president to take care of external aspects, representing the club and all that. (…) We work through music, you know exactly how I think”, said Landim, before adding:

“I think Rodrigo and I have already developed this type of knowledge over the years. In conversation with me, he said ‘it would be such a waste to have you away from me’. Because the position on the Deliberative Council is different, it is not linked to the day-to-day running of the club. (…) I will take care of the routines that I helped to structure and implement within the club. With a commitment to improving revenue, club processes and headquarters infrastructure.”

The Flamengo, one of the most powerful clubs and with the biggest fans in Brazilian football, faces a crisis that goes beyond the four lines. Amid inconsistent results and a constant dance of coaches, the root of the problem appears to be within the club itself. The phrase from former coach Domenec Torrent, who categorically states that "Flamengo's problem is within Flamengo", points to an internal disorganization that is reflected on the field. And this does not depend on the coach in charge — whether renowned or unknown. According to Torrent, as long as internal issues are not resolved, the team will continue to face difficulties, regardless of who is in charge.

Torrent's comment is not just limited to a superficial diagnosis. The coach, who had a brief and turbulent spell at the club, had a view from inside the dressing room and dealt directly with problems that today seem to persist. When he mentions that the difficulties would continue with any big name, such as Ancelotti, Klopp or Guardiola, the message he sends is clear: the situation goes beyond tactics or game philosophy. It is structural and is deeply rooted in behavior and internal attitudes.

The expression "While these two are at Flamengo, anyone can come" also reinforces the idea that there are specific figures within the club who make it difficult to develop consistent work. Even without mentioning names, it is understood that there is an unresolved power relationship between the main actors in charge of the club. This apparently negative influence crosses different administrations and prevents any coach, no matter how competent and respected he may be, from implementing his ideas and establishing a lasting game model.

To better understand the impact of Torrent's statements, it is important remember the context in which he took over Flamengo. The Spanish coach arrived at the club in 2020, shortly after the departure of Jorge Jesus, a coach who had achieved almost everything with the team and left a legacy that would be difficult to overcome. Expectations were high, but Torrent had difficulty adapting to Brazilian football and was harshly criticized for his choices and lack of significant results. His stay was short and ended bitterly, but his observations left an important point: Flamengo's internal environment does not favor the continuity of work, no matter how competent the coach is.