Soccer
MESSED AND IN THE LANTERN! SEE HOW FLUMINENSE GETS TO THE CLASSIC AGAINST FLAMENGO
Coach Fernando Diniz has been under pressure in his position due to poor results
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Flamengo had little time to celebrate the victory over Bahia and now needs to focus on the classic against Fluminense, this Sunday (23), at Maracanã, at 4pm, for the 11th round of the Brasileirão. Leader, Mengão arrives with high morale due to the positive results with a missing team, they want an advantage at the top and still have the chance to sink their rival even further into the bottom.
Flamengo leads the Brasileirão with 21 points, while Fluminense is experiencing a crisis. The team could open up a three to four point lead if Botafogo and Palmeiras stumble, tied with 20 points in second place. Fluminense is going through a major crisis and has just six points in last place.
The team led by Fernando Diniz has just one win, three draws and six defeats in the competition. There have been 10 goals scored and 18 conceded so far, which represents an average of one goal scored and 1.8 goals conceded per game. No wonder the coach is under greater pressure since taking over the team in 2022.
The only victory came in the third round in the classic against Vasco. Therefore, they are from the fourth to the 10th round without winning, with four defeats and three draws. Of these four setbacks, three were in sequence in the last rounds: 1-0 for Botafogo, 2-1 for Atlético-GO and 2-0 for Cruzeiro.
If in 2023 he managed to win football to become champion of the Libertadores, Fluminense's 2024 on the field is the opposite. The team still tries to emulate the ideas of ball possession, approach and short passes from Fernando Diniz's defense, but the much lower performance increases the tone of criticism and demands for changes.
The coach, on the other hand , guarantees that the debate was part of his entire career as a coach and will not change at this moment.
Scenario that makes Flamengo very favorite for the game and could make the rival's crisis, which already seems big, go to an even higher level. A defeat to Mengão, depending on how it plays out on the field, and a possible three-point disadvantage in the bottom position would certainly increase the pressure.
To keep an eye on: Cano and John Kennedy
Fluminense's player numbers explain the team's very bad year. The top scorer is midfielder Jhon Arias, who has seven goals and is missing from the Copa América. Second top scorer is Lelê, who is injured and hasn't played since the beginning of April.
That leaves Cano and John Kennedy fighting for the starting spot and trying to take on the goalscoring role at this troubled time. The phase of both is not good, but the red and black defense needs to pay attention. One of the two will probably start playing, or maybe even both, and the offensive plays will certainly be looking for the athletes.
Germán Cano scored five goals in 2024, while John Kennedy has four. But it is worth highlighting that the Argentine played 2,004 minutes and the 22-year-old striker less than half: 846. On the other hand, the young man did not score in the Brasileirão.
Probable lineup for Fluminense against Flamengo< /b>
Diniz has a list of absences for the match. They are: Arias (Copa América), André (injured) and Manoel and Isaac (muscle pain). On the other hand, it has the return of Felipe Melo, Ganso and Guga who were suspended, as well as Samuel Xavier and Marcelo who felt muscle discomfort before the last game.
Marquinhos left the defeat to Cruzeiro in pain, but The technical committee expects to have a striker.
Thus, a possible Fluminense player for the game against Flamengo in the Brasileirão is: Fábio; Samuel Xavier, Marlon, Felipe Melo and Marcelo; Martinelli, Lima and Ganso; Marquinhos, Keno (Douglas Costa) and Cano (John Kennedy).
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Soccer
Gerson leaves CT Ninho do Urubu without saying goodbye to his Flamengo teammates
Without attending the squad's return and without saying goodbye to his teammates and coaching staff, the player ends his second stint at Gávea in a cold manner.
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The deal was concluded directly. Zenit, which had shown interest in strengthening its midfield, officially signed Gerson with full payment of the termination clause . The amount, 25 million euros (approximately R$146 million at the current exchange rate), was paid in cash, with no installments or pending payments.
This operation facilitated the immediate release of the athlete, who did not return to the squad on Friday. Rubro-Negro, in turn, issued a statement confirming the transfer and thanking him for his services.
FLAMENGO WILL HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT LOSS
The midfielder has already scheduled a trip to Russia, where he will be officially presented as a Zenit reinforcement in the coming days . The Russian club sees Gerson as a key player to reinforce the midfield with a view to competing in European and domestic competitions. This will be Gerson's second experience in Europe since leaving Flamengo for the first time, in 2021, when he transferred to Olympique de Marseille.
EXIT THROUGH THE BACK DOORS
Unlike the first farewell, which included tributes on FlaTV and a positive atmosphere, the current departure was marked by coldness. According to an investigation by journalist Venê Casagrande, from “SBT Rio”, the player chose not to say goodbye to his teammates or the coaching staff . Internally, the episode was interpreted as a gesture of discontent with the club's current situation and with his own physical and technical condition, since Gerson had not been performing well and was even the target of criticism from the fans.
Since his return to Flamengo in 2023, Gerson has not been able to return to the high level of performances he had in 2019 and 2020. Between injuries and fluctuations, he lost his place in important moments of the season. The drop in performance, combined with strong competition in the midfield, fueled the player's desire to seek new horizons. Internal sources indicate that the player had been showing signs of fatigue and dissatisfaction with the environment. The early elimination from the Club World Cup was another factor that weighed on his decision to leave the club.
Soccer
Change of namesakes at Flamengo: Jhonston arrives and Michael may be leaving
The Rio de Janeiro club is unlikely to make any effort to keep the player, who had already expressed his desire to leave since the beginning of the year but was blocked by the World Cup
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Negotiations involving Michael and Al-Duhail have gained momentum in recent days . According to journalist Mauro Sant'Ana, the Qatari club has formally proposed to the player's staff, who are positive about the possibility of returning to Middle Eastern football. Flamengo, in turn, was informed of the move and signaled that it will not block his exit.
The 29-year-old striker had been showing dissatisfaction with the lack of minutes under Filipe Luís, especially after the Club World Cup, where he had little participation. Michael's departure has been in the works since the beginning of the season. The player had already asked to leave the club at the beginning of 2025, but was eventually convinced to stay until the end of the first half of the year.
AN IMMINENT EXIT FOR THE STRIKER
The internal promise was that, in the middle of the year, the club would analyze possible proposals more openly. With the mid-year window underway and Al-Duhail's interest confirmed, the tendency is for the negotiation to move forward quickly. The red-black board understands that the time is right to release the player.
A CAST THAT IS DISMEMBERING
With a large offensive sector and the active search for two fast wingers on the market, the club considers the departure of Michael natural, who returned to Flamengo in August 2024 without any costs, after terminating his contract with Al-Hilal. In addition, the eventual transfer will allow to reduce the payroll and make space in the squad for reinforcements that better fit the profile desired by the coaching staff.
Even with Michael's possible departure, Flamengo remains active in the market in search of two wing attackers. The idea is to bring in names with dribbling ability and explosiveness in tight spaces, characteristics that the coaching staff considers essential for the current game model. Recently, the club made inquiries for Michael Johnston, a 25-year-old Irish striker , in addition to monitoring South American players who could arrive on loan with an option to buy.
Soccer
Meet the profile of Michael Jhonston, Flamengo's new target
The player fits into Filipe Luís' scheme, being versatile in his group, with few goals but with an offensive presence in his career.
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Flamengo is getting closer to signing another signing for the season. The Rio de Janeiro club is negotiating the signing of Michael Johnston, an Irish striker who plays for West Bromwich Albion in the English second division . The proposal is worth around 5 million euros (R$31 million) , and negotiations are progressing positively.
The player's name was approved internally and has the support of the technical committee. Filipe Luís and Boto , who actively participate in the market mapping, see in Johnston an athlete with characteristics that fit the style required by Filipe Luís: a wing player, with dribbling ability, mobility and tactical reading.
A PLAYER WITH MANY SKILLS
Michael Johnston prefers to play as a second striker, but he can also play on the wings. This versatility is seen as a differential, especially given the injuries that the red-black squad has faced in recent weeks. With Everton Cebolinha in the medical department and Bruno Henrique recovering physically, the offensive sector has become a priority in the market. Johnston emerges as an option with international experience and a cost considered affordable compared to other European targets.
A VERY STRONG GAME ON THE EDGES
Johnston was a Celtic player from Scotland and made his senior debut in May 2017 in a 4–1 win over St Johnstone. His first professional goal came at the end of 2018 against Motherwell. His most memorable moment for the Scottish club was a goal against Stade Rennais in the 2019 UEFA Europa League group stage.
Despite his good moments, the striker suffered from muscle injuries and faced strong competition in the attacking sector. The constant interruptions hindered his sequence and led Celtic to loan him out to gain experience. In 2022, Michael was loaned to Vitória de Guimarães, in Portugal, where he got more time on the field and showed physical improvement. His performance served as a springboard for his loan to West Bromwich, in England, in 2024.
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