Flamengo officials travel to Europe this Saturday to close the signings of Alcaraz, Plata and Alex Sandro

Flamengo found a new midfielder in their 3-1 Brasileirão victory over Internacional. Playing alongside Jorginho as a defensive midfielder by Filipe Luís , Spaniard Saúl made his starting debut and delivered, playing the full 90 minutes.

Newly arrived at the club, Saúl had started on the bench against Mirassol (Brasileirão) and Inter (Libertadores). Having not played since May, he had been reconditioning himself physically since his arrival on July 23. Against Colorado, in addition to keeping up with the pace, he showed confidence in his role.

AN OPTION IN A PROBLEMATIC SECTOR

Filipe Luís had previously stated that he saw Saúl capable of playing in any midfield position, but highlighted his role as an open player on the right , the same role Gerson excelled in and that Plata and Luiz Araújo have occupied. This positive debut broadens the coach's range in a sector suffering from significant absences.

The Spaniard replaced Allan, who was out due to thigh pain—although he hasn't been diagnosed with an injury. Pulgar, the starting player, is still recovering from foot surgery and isn't expected back until October. De la Cruz, after a month of treating knee inflammation , returned in the second half against Inter, but remains under medical care. Until now, Allan and Evertton Araújo had been alternating, without establishing themselves.

DECISION IN THE LIBERTADORES

Saúl's strong performance comes at a crucial moment. Flamengo will decide its place in the Libertadores quarterfinals this Wednesday (21), at 9:30 pm, again against Internacional, at Beira-Rio. After winning the first leg 1-0, Flamengo qualifies with a draw . A one-goal defeat takes the match to penalties; two or more goals eliminate the Rio de Janeiro team.

Real Madrid makes its LaLiga 2025-26 debut this Tuesday (19), at 9:00 pm (local time), at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The duel against Osasuna also marks Xabi Alonso's first official commitment as coach of the first team.

Among those called up for the match is Vinícius Júnior, a former Flamengo player , who returns as one of the main attacking options. He joins Mbappé, Rodrygo, Gonzalo, Brahim Díaz , and the young Mastantuono, increasing his chances of starting in the starting lineup.

REAL MADRID'S PROBABLE LINEUP

Real Madrid 's most likely formation for the start of the competition is a 4-3-3 formation: Courtois in goal; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Militão, Huijsen and Carreras make up the defense; Valverde, Tchouaméni and Arda Güler make up the midfield; while the attacking sector can count on Brahim, Vinícius Jr. and Mbappé.

Despite the star-studded squad, the team will face significant absences: Camavinga, Endrick, Bellingham, and Mendy are all injured , and Rüdiger is suspended. These absences open up opportunities for young talent and could change the team's dynamic at the start of the season.

EXPECTATIONS FOR XABI ALONSO'S DEBUT

In preparation for the season, Xabi Alonso emphasized that he seeks "answers on the field, not in speeches," reinforcing the demand for competitiveness from the outset. The coach takes over after a turbulent preseason and the frustration of the last Club World Cup campaign.

Maracanã will be the setting for the big decision of the U-20 Club World Cup this Saturday (23), at 4:30 pm, when Mais Querido faces Barcelona (ESP). The red-black team seeks to repeat the feat of 2024, when they won the title over Olympiacos (GRE) . For the confrontation, the technical committee released the list of athletes available for Filipe Luís.

Despite going through a period of uncertainty in his career, Matheus Gonçalves appears to be one of the top bets for the final. The 19-year-old, a key player in the previous victory, has been confirmed in the squad and will wear the number 10 jersey against the Spaniards.

The club has even highlighted the player in promotional campaigns for the match , enhancing his image in the most important match of the youth team season.

COMPETITION FOR SPACE IN THE MAIN CAST

Despite being praised by coach Filipe Luís , Gonçalves only made 14 appearances for the first team in 2025 , playing 313 minutes. Stiff competition from the likes of Luiz Araújo, Samuel Lino, and Plata made his run difficult, generating frustration and fueling rumors of a possible departure.

The attacking midfielder had advanced negotiations with Cruzeiro , with a proposal valued at €3.5 million, but the board backed down. Despite this, interest from abroad remains high: CSKA Moscow, from Russia, and Olympiacos, from Greece, are monitoring the situation and could formalize offers by the end of the window in September.

TRAJECTORY AT THE FLAMENGO BASE

A product of Flamengo 's youth academy, Matheus made his senior debut in 2022, aged just 17. The following year, he was loaned to Red Bull Bragantino, where he made 13 appearances. Returning to the club in 2024, he scored four goals in 36 appearances.