
Soccer
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Flamengo and Corinthians will face each other in this Sunday (20) in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semi-finals. Until the decision at Neo Química Arena is made, the São Paulo club is racing against time to complete the purchase of goalkeeper Hugo Souza, avoiding giving more profit to Rubro-Negro.
Corinthians has already officially communicated to Flamengo its interest in exercising the option to purchase the player. However, Mais Querido requires a bank guarantee to accept the proposal to pay in installments the 800,000 euros (around R$4.8 million) that the São Paulo team must pay. The deadline for Corinthians to convince Mengo of the viability of the deal is Saturday (19).
Corinthians' proposal is to divide the payment of 800 thousand euros into four installments of 200 thousand euros (approximately R$ 1.2 million), with maturities in January and July 2025 and 2026. Flamengo, in turn, requested a bank guarantee and, in response, the São Paulo club presented Brax, a partner company responsible for negotiating advertising signs for both clubs, as guarantor.
FLAMENGO STILL CAUTIOUS
Even with the presentation of the bank guarantee, Flamengo is still analyzing the situation. This is because Corinthians had already used Brax as a guarantor in the transaction involving Matheuzinho, who has an outstanding installment. In this way, Rubro-Negro evaluates the Corinthians proposal and has until Saturday (19) to issue a response.
If Flamengo rejects the offer, Corinthians will have to pay an additional R$500,000 to count on Hugo Souza in the second leg of the semi-final. With this, Rubro-Negro can accumulate up to R$2.5 million with the goalkeeper's loan to the São Paulo team. It is worth remembering that Corinthians has already paid the R$500,000 clause twice to play the athlete against Fla, both in the Brasileirão and in the first match of the semi-final. Furthermore, Mengo already received 200 thousand euros (R$ 1 million at the time) for the player's initial loan.
AMOUNTS ALREADY PAID BY CORINTHIANS TO FLAMENGO
R$ 500 thousand for the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil (first leg, paid)
R$ 500 thousand for confrontation in the Brasileirão (25th round, paid)
200 thousand euros (R$ 1 million) for the goalkeeper's loan (paid) < /p>
While negotiating Hugo Souza's definitive transaction, Flamengo and Corinthians continue to prepare for the decisive clash. With a 1-0 victory in the first game, Mengo is playing for a draw to guarantee a place in the final of the Copa do Brasil. Corinthians, on the other hand, needs to win by one goal to take the match to penalties or by two or more to advance directly.
The game between Corinthians and Flamengo will be held at 4pm (Brasília time) this Sunday (20), at Neo Química Arena.
The Mais Querido coach was harshly criticized by the former player, who highlighted that despite the numbers below, the number 9 should be selected
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The Pedro and Filipe Luís case continues to generate controversy . Former Flamengo player Alecsandro appeared on the Panela SporTV program and expressed a strong opinion on the recent controversy involving the number 9 and the coach of the "Mais Querido" (Flamengo). The former athlete defended the striker and condemned the extensive use of technologies, such as GPS, to assess performance.
Alecsandro recalled his experience in the final stages of his career, when physical data often indicated he was the lowest on the team in sprints, speed, and movement. However, he emphasized that his role on the field as a center forward was much more specific and could not be evaluated in the same way as other players.
Alecsandro criticizes Filipe Luís: "I had a coach who didn't talk to the athlete and put the guy to play."
He continued: "Because the guy was performing well and had to play. On the other hand, when Filipe talks about the last in the physical part, the last in I don't know what... brother, Pedro is there to score goals. At the end of my career, I got this modern football with GPS. And I was always the last."
According to Alecsandro, the statistics used in soccer and training don't consider the true responsibilities and roles of each player on the field: "But I'd tell the guys: 'I'm going to score the goal and it'll end 2-1, 1-0, with a goal by me.' But I couldn't run faster than Marcos Rocha or Dudu. I was the last in my physical abilities," he said before adding:
But within the limits of my speed, I was good. So, from my perspective, he exaggerated a lot of what Filipe demanded. Pedro is a player who works in a specific area of the field, running 9 or 10 km, while a defensive midfielder runs 20 ," the former Flamengo player noted.
Thus, despite Alecsandro's criticism, coach Filipe Luís kept Pedro out of the list of players involved in the match against Santos, this Wednesday (16). Flamengo faces the São Paulo team at Vila Belmiro, at 8 pm, for the 14th round of the Brasileirão.
High numbers clash with the Italian club's financial demands; the striker already has an agreement with the Rubro-Negro and could be transferred within days
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Flamengo is keeping an eye on the transfer market and could invest heavily to strengthen its attack. Following the controversy surrounding Pedro , the club is evaluating its options and has entered the race to sign Taty Castellanos, a forward for Lazio and the Argentine national team. The information was initially revealed by journalist Venê Casagrande.
Valentín "Taty" Castellanos is 26 years old, Argentine, and currently plays for Lazio in Italy . A South American soccer sensation with notable stints at MLS clubs and Girona in Spain, the striker is known for his physical strength, intense movement, and eye for goal.
Lazio has indicated that it will only negotiate the player's transfer for €25 million—equivalent to approximately R$160 million at the current exchange rate. The amount is considered high by Brazilian soccer standards, but Flamengo is analyzing ways to make the investment viable. Castellanos and Flamengo have already reached an agreement: the contract length and base salary are aligned.
The Argentine, in fact, has reportedly expressed excitement about the possibility of playing in Brazilian football, specifically for the red-and-black team. The search for a new number 9 has intensified following the tension between Pedro and the club. The controversy surrounding the striker and assistant coach Filipe Luís has worsened the situation, and the player's departure is being considered behind the scenes. As a result, Castellanos's name has gained traction.
The player is on the radar of foreign clubs, but his departure depends on one clear condition: he will only be released in the event of a definitive offer.
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In recent days, a Middle Eastern team approached Flamengo with the intention of loaning Michael , but the Rio de Janeiro club's response was blunt: no . The proposal was rejected by president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as BAP, who ruled out any possibility of releasing the striker on loan.
According to journalist Jorge Nicola, Flamengo "is only willing to do business if there are definitive offers." The board believes the striker still has a market and will only leave Ninho do Urubu if concrete financial compensation is received.
Michael, nicknamed "Little Robot" by the fans, has expressed his desire to leave. With limited space under Filipe Luís, the striker was not included in the squad for the last match against Santos and remained in Rio to treat ankle pain. Internally, he has already informed the coaching staff that he prefers to seek new surroundings.
Despite this, Flamengo is being cautious. Michael's contract runs until 2028 and he earns one of the highest salaries in the squad, which limits his options on the market. One of the clubs monitoring the situation is Qatar's Al-Duhail, but no official offer has been submitted yet. The board is treating the situation cautiously. Although the player is considered negotiable, there is no rush to sell him.
Flamengo understands that Michael could be useful throughout the season if no advantageous offers emerge. Therefore, the refusal to loan him is strategic. The ideal scenario for Flamengo is to find a permanent buyer during this window, which would generate revenue and free up space on the payroll. However, with the Asian market still buoyant, the club has not ruled out further inquiries in the coming days.
Another name under the spotlight is Pedro . The number 9 is not having the best time at the club and was left out of the match against Santos after public criticism from coach Filipe Luís. His situation is seen as delicate . Palmeiras was even mentioned as interested, but ruled out any approach due to the game limit in the Brasileirão. Even so, negotiations with foreign clubs are still possible this window.