IN A DUEL AGAINST GRÊMIO, FLAMENGO WILL PAY TRIBUTE TO THE HISTORICAL IDOL

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.

FLAMENGO OPENS UP ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS

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.

VALUES DEFINED AT THE TABLE

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.

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.

THE PLAYER ASKED FOR THE MOST LOVED ONE TO LEAVE

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.

FUTURE PROBLEMS

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.

After nearly signing with Flamengo last season, midfielder Evander, currently at FC Cincinnati in the United States, is in Botafogo's sights for the remainder of 2024. According to journalist João Van Boysen, the black and white club is competing for the signing of the 27-year-old player with Benfica in Portugal.

Evander's contract with Cincinnati runs until December 2027, and the North American club has set a fee of €17 million, approximately R$109 million, to release him. It's not yet known whether Botafogo intends to pay or negotiate a lower fee.

MIDFIELDER WAS TARGETED BY FLA

Revealed by Vasco, Evander was once in the plans of Flamengo's former management, who saw him as an immediate backup to Arrascaeta. At the time, however, negotiations with Portland Timbers, the club he played for before Cincinnati, ultimately fell through. Now, the midfielder's future is back on the Brazilian football radar.

EVANDER'S NUMBERS

• Evander, playing for FC Cincinnati in MLS, has the following numbers in 2025 (as of October, based on available information):Games: 28
• Goals: 9
• Assists: 14
• Shirt number: 10