Amid controversy, De La Cruz receives curious news from Flamengo

Cruzeiro has opened talks to try to sign Matheus França , a 21-year-old attacking midfielder who came through Flamengo's ranks and is currently playing for Crystal Palace in England. Despite the interest, the club's board believes the fees involved are outside the standards adopted at Toca da Raposa II , according to Goal.

REQUEST BECOMES AN OBSTACLE

The main obstacle is the player's high salary request, combined with the demands made by the English club . Matheus França was acquired by Crystal Palace in August 2023 for around €20 million—approximately R$126 million at the current exchange rate—a similar amount to the amount paid at the time of the transfer.

If Cruzeiro accepts the requested figures, the attacking midfielder would become one of the three highest-paid players in the squad , behind only Gabriel Barbosa and Matheus Pereira. However, the club currently considers this amount unaffordable.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

Matheus França played 52 matches for Flamengo between 2021 and 2023, scoring nine goals and providing two assists. Despite his short tenure, he demonstrated his ability to decide matches and participate in decisive moments , gaining experience in national and continental tournaments.

The player also shone in the youth ranks of the Brazilian national team. His professional debut for the red-and-black team came in 2022 , when he scored six goals and played an important role in the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil victories.

Flamengo's standout player in recent matches, Samuel Lino could be close to his first call-up to the Brazilian National Team . On Thursday night (14), the striker met with coach Carlo Ancelotti at Mocellin Steakhouse , in Barra da Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro. The news was first reported by Coluna do Fla.

Ancelotti had already seen Samuel in action the day before at the Maracanã, when Flamengo beat Internacional 1-0 in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16. On that occasion, the striker gave full-back Aguirre a hard time, creating good plays down the left flank.

In the previous duel, against Mirassol for the Brasileirão, Samu had provided the assist for Léo Pereira to open the scoring in the 2-1 victory. Recently signed from Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Samuel Lino has played five games with the Manto Sagrado, without yet scoring goals , but with performances that have been attracting attention.

DATE OF CALLING

The next Brazilian national team roster will be announced by Carlo Ancelotti on August 25th at 3:30 pm (Brasília time) at the CBF headquarters. The 23 players will be announced for the matches against Chile at the Maracanã and Bolivia in El Alto, on September 4th and 9th, respectively, in the final rounds of the World Cup qualifiers. Brazil has already secured a spot in the World Cup and is looking to improve on its current third-place finish.

There is an expectation that other Flamengo athletes will be called up, as happened in Ancelotti's first call-up , when Léo Ortiz, Danilo and Alex Sandro, in addition to Wesley and Gerson — then Flamengo players —, were included in the list.

HISTORY AGAINST ANCELOTTI

In Europe, Samuel Lino and Carlo Ancelotti have faced each other several times. The striker, playing for Valencia and Atlético de Madrid, recorded four wins, three losses, and four draws against the coach , who was then in charge of Real Madrid. Samu scored twice in matches against teams managed by the Italian.

Bruno Henrique started last Wednesday (13) and scored the winning goal for Flamengo over Internacional, 1-0, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. The lineup generated debates, as days before new developments emerged in the accusation of fraud in sports results involving the striker.

Filipe Luís on Flamengo's Bruno Henrique: "Until he is tried and convicted, he is innocent"

"My treatment of him is the same. He's presumed innocent . Until he's tried and convicted, he's innocent," said coach Filipe Luís at a press conference at Maracanã. This isn't the first time the coach has addressed the issue, and he's stated that he will continue using the player.

UNDERSTAND THE CASE

The investigation began in November 2023, when Bruno Henrique received a yellow card and, later, a red card in Flamengo 's match against Santos . Three bookmakers registered suspicious activity linked to the possibility of the player being cautioned.

Conversations extracted from the attacker's cell phone, in which he and his brother Wander discuss the possibility of receiving a card, became key pieces of evidence in the case . The case, which had been stalled, resumed progress in 2025.

LATEST UPDATES

On August 12, a petition called for Bruno Henrique and his brother to be charged with alleged fraud , in addition to fraud. Judge Fernando Brandini Barbagalo, however, upheld the decision not to arrest them, stating that there was no risk of flight.

If convicted, the brothers could face sentences of two to six years in prison, plus a fine. While the case continues, Bruno Henrique remains at Filipe Luís's disposal . If convicted, the striker could be suspended from football for up to two years.