Finally saved! Gerson "rests" after marathon of 40 consecutive games

Flamengo and Grêmio face each other again this Sunday (22) for the Brazilian Championship, in a match that promises to be hot. The recent history between the two teams shows a clear advantage for Flamengo, which wants to maintain its superiority and increase the so-called "freguesia" over its rival from Rio Grande do Sul.

In recent seasons, Flamengo has had the better of most of the clashes against Grêmio, especially in decisive moments. Victories in important competitions, such as Copa do Brasil and Libertadores, strengthened this narrative. Among fans, the term “freguesia” began to be used recurrently to describe Flamengo's sequence of triumphs over the Gauchos.

Grêmio, despite being one of the biggest clubs in Brazilian football , has suffered at the hands of the Rio team, especially in knockout clashes and important games. Since the arrival of Jorge Jesus in 2019, Flamengo has become one of the most feared teams in the country, winning important titles and maintaining regularity at a high level. Grêmio, on the other hand, had ups and downs and was unable to follow the same evolution.

This Sunday's duel promises to be another chapter in this story. Playing at home, Grêmio will try to reverse their recent record and seek a victory that can serve as redemption. Flamengo , even playing away from home, enters the field confident, knowing that the pressure is more on the opponent's shoulders.

Currently, Flamengo continues to seek to consolidate itself among the top placed teams in the Brasileirão, while the Grêmio struggles to remain competitive. For the Rio team, a victory in the South would be another opportunity to strengthen its dominance over the opponent, in addition to adding three important points in the title race. For Grêmio, beating Flamengo would be the chance to reverse this "parish" and show that it is still capable of competing on equal terms with the giants of national football.

Gabigol may be saying goodbye to Flamengo < /a>this season. Although he is not injured, the striker did not participate in the match against Grêmio and is training separately from the other players. This departure comes amid a tense atmosphere within the club, which raises doubts about the player's future. 

Gabigol's absence in the clash against Grêmio caught the attention of fans and the media. Even though he was physically fit, the player was not included in the game. The decision was surprising, as the striker is one of the team's main stars, responsible for important achievements in recent years.

In recent weeks, rumors have emerged about possible wear and tear between the player and the board. Although neither party has officially commented, it is clear that something is wrong. The fact that Gabigol trains separately from other athletes indicates that there is a distance in their relationship with the club. Gabigol's relationship with Flamengo, which was once seen as excellent, appears to be deteriorating rapidly. The striker was fundamental in several important moments for the team, such as winning the Libertadores in 2019, but the current scenario suggests that his cycle may be close to the end.

Although no official reason has been announced for the absence, it is speculated that extra-field issues are influencing this situation. It is not uncommon for players, especially stars, to end up facing problems with the board or other team members. In the case of Gabigol, the combination of his performance on the field and

Rafinha Alcântara, currently without a club since ending his contract with Al-Arabi, from Qatar, in July, made it clear that he has a great connection with Flamengo, even though he has never played in Brazilian football. In an interview with the program Que Partidazo, in 2019, the midfielder, who built his career internationally, revealed that he was a long-time fan of Mais Querido.

During the interview, the 31-year-old player, son of four-time champion Mazinho, recalled his career in European football, where he played for big clubs, such as Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. But what caught the attention of Mengão fans was his confession that he dreams of one day wearing the CRF shirt.

“I do think about playing for Flamengo. Everyone knows that I'm a big fan and supporter of the club. I followed and was very happy with the Brasileirão and Libertadores titles. It’s a dream to wear the Flamengo shirt”, said Rafinha Alcântara, generating euphoria among the red and black fans.

After his public statement, Flamengo's board of directors even investigated the situation of the player, who at the time was still linked to European football and had no intention of returning to Brazil. Now, without a club and free on the market, Rafinha can arrive at the Rio club without transfer costs, but Mengão's directors do not seem to have the athlete as a priority at the moment.

Still, there is speculation that Rafinha Alcântara could be made official at Gávea for the 2025 season, depending on changes in the squad and technical committee, which is currently led by Tite.

Rafinha Alcântara began his career in Barcelona's youth teams, where he played until being promoted to the professional squad. Over the years, he has spent time at clubs such as Celta de Vigo, Inter Milan, Real Sociedad, as well as Paris Saint-Germain, where he played alongside Neymar. His last club was Al-Arabi, in Qatar, where he played 40 matches, scored nine goals and provided 10 assists.