The surprising journey of Marcos Antônio, from Athletico-PR to Europe, now generates interest from Flamengo
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Marcos Antônio, popularly known as “Bahia”, began his football journey in Poções, Bahia, before venturing into the Athletico-PR academy at the age of 11. Despite not playing professionally for the Curitiba club, his skill and determination took him far, even participating in the Brazilian under-15 and under-17 teams and winning South American titles in these categories.
From Brazil to the world, Marcos Antônio moved to Europe, where he began his professional career in Estoril, Portugal. Soon his talent took him to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine, where he shone for three seasons, before a spell at Lazio and a loan to Paok in Greece. His journey is marked by challenges and triumphs in different clubs and countries.
At Shakhtar Donetsk, “Bahia” stood out markedly, playing in more than 100 matches, which catapulted him to a transfer worth 8 million euros to Lazio. However, he faced difficulties establishing himself in competitive Italian football, which led to his loan to Paok. Despite the obstacles, his technique and vision of the game were always recognized.
At Lazio, despite having participated in 22 games, Marcos Antônio found a very rigid tactical environment, a striking characteristic of Italian football. This reality, together with the coaches' predilection for a more pragmatic approach, complicated their full adaptation. However, periods under the command of coaches such as Roberto De Zerbi and Maurizio Sarri allowed him to demonstrate his potential on several occasions.
Recently, Flamengo showed significant interest in incorporating “Bahia” into their squad. Negotiations for a loan with an option to buy are underway, highlighting the Brazilian club's desire to take advantage of his abilities in midfield. Flamengo is willing to invest between 5 and 6 million euros, plus bonuses, in the eventual purchase of the athlete.
The clause being discussed between the parties implies that, if Marcos Antônio plays in 50% of the games during During the loan period, Flamengo will be forced to buy the player's pass. This operation signals how Marcos' talent and resilience can add significant value to the Red and Black midfield.
Anitta's boyfriend, former Flamengo player becomes a trusted man in the English team
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Introduced to the world as Anitta's new boyfriend during Paris Fashion Week, Brazilian midfielder Vini Souza is having a great time on the field.
Despite being relegated with Sheffield United to second place division of the English Championship last season, the 25-year-old player quickly turned things around and established himself as the protagonist of his team's attempt to return to the Premier League.
The former Flamengo player is already the first placed in the Championship's tackles ranking, second in England. Furthermore, last weekend, he wore the "Blades" captain's armband for the first time, the nickname by which his team is known.
The ability to steal the ball from opponents is precisely the best feature of Anitta's boyfriend's game. Two seasons ago, when he played for Espanyol, he was one of the record holders for this foundation in the Spanish La Liga. This was precisely the reason that made Sheffield pay 12.5 million euros (R$ 75.7 million) to take him to England.
In the current season, the Brazilian has an average of 4.3 tackles per game in the Championship, according to data collected by "WhoScored?". The one closest to him is Englishman David Ozoh, from Derby County, with 3.8 balls recovered each match.
Even in England's top division, there is only one player with better defensive numbers than Vini's. Souza: Ivorian Ibrahim Sangaré, from Nottingham Forest, who has an average of 5 tackles per match played.
Trustworthy manOne of the 12 remaining players in the squad. Sheffield squad relegated last season, the midfielder gained the trust of coach Chris Wilder and joined the hierarchy of team captains. The owner of the armband continues to be defender Jack Robinson, who has been at the club since 2020. But, in his absence and the revelation of Oliver Arblaster, created from the youth teams, the position now goes to the Brazilian.
Starting in the six rounds of the Championship already played and without having been substituted even once in the season, Vini debuted as captain in the 1-0 victory over Derby County, last Saturday.
"This is a sign of that my work is being valued, not only for what I've been doing on the field, but off it as well", he stated.
Coach has not been able to achieve the expected results and football
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Last Thursday (26), Flamengo was unable to overcome the necessary challenges and was eliminated from the Libertadores da America in the quarterfinals. After this elimination, coupled with recent unsatisfactory results in the Brazilian Championship, Tite faces increasing pressure on his position. It is no surprise that many fans are in favor of the coach's dismissal.
A poll carried out by the portal 'Coluna do Fla' revealed that a significant majority of fans voted in favor of Tite's departure. In total, 82.5% of participants expressed support for the coach's dismissal, while only 17.5% were opposed to the idea.
In short, Tite has a contract with Flamengo until the end of 2024. Almost a year at the head of the red-black team, the coach has not yet achieved unanimity among the fans. This is partly due to the recent defeats in the Brasileirão and the elimination in the quarter-finals of the Libertadores.
Recently, the coach became the target of several demonstrations by fans. In Gávea, graffiti on the wall asked: “Out, Tite”. Furthermore, in the stadiums where Flamengo plays, shouts of support for the coach's dismissal have resounded in the stands.
SITUATION BEHIND THE SCENESBefore the elimination in the Libertadores, Flamengo's directors were supporting Tite's stay. However, after the early exit from the continental competition, the scenario changed.
Although Tite's resignation has not yet been made official, president Rodolfo Landim considers that Rodrigo Dunshee's campaign is at risk if Flamengo ends the season without winning a significant title. In this way, the red and black leaders began to consider the possibility of dismissing the coach.
With the electoral scenario in view, together with the elimination in the Libertadores, Tite's future was questioned behind the scenes at Flamengo by first time. However, according to information from ESPN, the red and black board should not make a decision on the coach's dismissal before the semi-finals of the Copa do Brasil.
The club has a new direction with young promises
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Lazio, in a last-minute attempt, sought to interfere in negotiations between Carlos Alcaraz and Flamengo. The Italian club tried to persuade the player to change his mind, offering an alternative for his career in Europe. However, Alcaraz remained firm in his decision, convinced that the Flamengo represented the best choice for the next step in his career.
According to information from Mauro Cezar, published in UOL Esporte, the Argentine midfielder was determined to wear the red-black shirt, despite the interest from Lazio. This conviction was decisive for Flamengo to remain confident in negotiations, even with the European onslaught. The choice of Alcaraz reinforces the appeal that Flamengo has in the South American market, being seen by many players as an ideal platform for development and international projection.
FLAMENGO WAS "STRONG" IN THE MARKETThe Rio club had made an initial offer to Southampton, where Alcaraz currently plays. This offer, however, was considered below expectations by the English, who made a counter-offer. Lazio, upon realizing the impasse, tried to take advantage of the situation, but Alcaraz's desire to play for Flamengo ended up weighing more.
Flamengo has shown itself to be an attractive force for young South American talent, offering not only visibility, but also the possibility of competing in high-level competitions and gaining value in the European market. For Alcaraz, Flamengo's sporting project, combined with the possibility of winning titles and standing out in one of the most popular clubs on the continent, were decisive factors in choosing him.
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