FLAMENGO MANAGER PRAISES ARRASCAETA'S PERFORMANCE FOR URUGUAY: "DECISIVE"

Flamengo continues negotiating with Lazio in Italy, the terms of the midfielder's loan Marcos Antônio. One of the main points of discussion between the clubs is the mandatory purchase clause, which the Italian club wants to impose if the player plays in 50% of the matches during the loan period. Rubro-Negro, in turn, did not accept this condition and is trying to adjust the definition of "games" to this goal.

This lack of definition has been one of the main obstacles in negotiations, as Flamengo seeks greater flexibility in the conditions that would force the athlete to purchase. Another important point under discussion is the value of the purchase option. The expectation is that Flamengo will pay between 5 and 6 million euros (approximately R$30.4 to R$36.4 million at current prices), in addition to additional bonuses, to acquire Marcos Antônio permanently.

FLAMENGO AND ITS DEFINITION BY THE NEW REINFORCEMENT

Flamengo is carefully evaluating the numbers involved in the transaction. The club seeks to balance investments to reinforce the squad without compromising its finances. Marcos Antônio is a young midfielder who stood out in European football. A graduate of Athletico-PR's youth teams, he transferred to Estoril, in Portugal, before arriving at Lazio, in Italy. His technical ability and game vision caught the attention of Flamengo, who see the player as a potential reinforcement for the team led by Tite.

Negotiations between Flamengo and Lazio should continue in the coming days. The expectation is that both parties will reach an agreement that is satisfactory to everyone involved. Meanwhile, Flamengo remains attentive to the transfer market, looking for reinforcements that can contribute to the continuation of the season.

Behind the scenes at Flamengo are busy looking for reinforcements for next season. The Rio club, always attentive to market opportunities, is now focusing on signing midfielder Marcos Antônio, currently at Lazio, in Italy. In addition to him, there are other names on the agenda, but which have not yet been leaked to the press.

Directors Marcos Braz and Bruno Spindel, responsible for Flamengo's negotiations, will soon embark for Europe. The report found that the English capital, London, is on the itinerary, suggesting that directors are keeping an eye on more than one player and that talks could involve other European clubs besides Lazio.

MARCOS ANTONIO IS A PRIORITY MÁXIMA 

Marcos Antônio is 24 years old and has already accepted the proposal from Flamengo for a one-year loan. The young midfielder, who stood out in European football, welcomes the opportunity to wear the red and black shirt and return to Brazil to play for one of the country's biggest clubs. However, the negotiation is not simple and there are still pending issues to be resolved with the Italian club.

The main obstacle to completing the loan are the triggers that would determine the purchase obligation at the end of the period. Lazio wants to ensure that Flamengo commits to buying the player permanently if some goals are achieved during the loan. The red-black leaders will travel to Rome to try to adjust these details and close the agreement.

The second round of the Copa América came to an end this Friday (28), with the Brazilian team winning 4-1 against Paraguay, with two goals from Vinicius Júnior and one from Lucas Paquetá, both former Flamengo players. . With this result, Uruguay, which has four red and black players, will face Brazil or Colombia in the quarterfinals of the national team competition. The Brazilian performance reinforces expectations for the next matches of the tournament.

Last Thursday (27), Uruguay defeated Bolivia 5-0 and qualified for the quarterfinals of the Copa América. To lose first place in the final round, the Uruguayans would have to lose to the United States and Panama would have to defeat the Bolivians by an elastic score. The Uruguayans' convincing performance solidified their position at the top of the group, practically guaranteeing leadership.

Practically guaranteed first place, Uruguay awaits its next opponent in the quarterfinals. final, which will be Colombia or Brazil. Currently, the Colombians lead Group D with six points. The Brazilian team has four and, to take the top spot, they will have to defeat their rival. The direct confrontation will be next Tuesday (02), at 10pm (Brasília time). This duel promises to be decisive in defining the quarter-finals.

Uruguay has four players from Flamengo: Varela, Matías Viña, Nicolás de la Cruz and Arrascaeta . Therefore, if they are eliminated in the quarterfinals on July 6th against Brazil or Colombia, the Uruguayan athletes will return to the red and black team sooner. The presence of Uruguayan players is an important asset for Flamengo, which seeks to maintain its performance in the Brazilian Championship.

Still without Varela, Matías Viña, Nicolás de la Cruz and Arrascaeta, Flamengo takes the field this Sunday (30), against Cruzeiro, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a game valid for the 13th round of the Brazilian Championship. The Rio team hopes to win a victory to continue their journey towards the top of the table. The absence of players due to the Copa América is a concern, but the team seeks to overcome this challenge.