Soccer

São Paulo team aims to sign Flamengo defender - understand

The defender has a contract until December, but he is not in the plans of the red-black team. Santos is analyzing the situation, but salary is an obstacle to negotiations

Defender Pablo trains separately from Flamengo and could join Santos. The São Paulo club is considering signing him, but the high salary could make the deal difficult (Photo/ CRF)

26 Mar 2025 | 07:14 |

Without a place in Flamengo's squad, defender Pablo continues to train separately at Ninho do Urubu while awaiting a decision on his future. The defender, who has a contract with the club until December, is not part of the coaching staff's plans and could be negotiated in the coming days. Given this scenario, the CRF is open to offers for the player and is monitoring potential interested parties. One of the clubs that has emerged as an alternative for the defender is Santos, which is looking to strengthen its defensive system for the season. The São Paulo team has investigated the athlete's situation and has shown interest in a possible signing.

PABLO'S SALARY IS AN OBSTACLE FOR SANTOS

Despite Peixe's interest, one factor could make negotiations difficult: the defender's high salary. To play for the Santos team, Pablo would need to accept a considerable reduction in his salary. According to information from the Santistas.Net portal, this issue could be an obstacle to a positive outcome. The deadline for completing the transfer is also a point of attention. The special window for players who played in state championships ends on April 11, which gives the parties enough time to try to reach an agreement.

GRÊMIO WAS SPECULATED, BUT NEGOTIATIONS DID NOT PROGRESS

In addition to Santos, another club that was speculated as a possible destination for Pablo was Grêmio. However, according to an investigation by the MundoBola Flamengo portal, no official proposal from the Rio Grande do Sul team was made to Mais Querido. Thus, negotiations did not progress and the possibility of a transfer to Porto Alegre cooled down.

While waiting for an outcome, the defender continues to follow his training routine separately from the rest of the red-black squad. The board is holding behind-the-scenes talks in search of the best solution for the player's future. In addition to the uncertainty about his future in football, Pablo is also involved in a legal dispute . The defender has taken Botafogo to court to collect a debt owed by the Rio de Janeiro club. The amount of the claim has not been revealed, but the lawsuit is ongoing.

This legal issue, however, does not directly interfere with negotiations for his departure from Flamengo. The focus of the player and his representatives is on defining a new club to continue his career. Pablo 's fate remains undecided, and the situation may gain new chapters in the coming days. If he does not find an interested club before the window closes, the defender may continue training separately at Ninho do Urubu until the end of his contract.

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Soccer

Uruguay coach explains Flamengo midfielder's absence from squad

Marcelo Bielsa left out a Mengão player he considers one of his favorites and spoke about his health before the official list

De La Cruz is left out of Uruguay's squad for the final round of World Cup qualifiers - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

30 Ago 2025 | 15:45 |

Amid the call-ups for the FIFA Date, coach Marcelo Bielsa surprised by leaving Nicolás de la Cruz out of Uruguay's list for the last two games of the Qualifiers . In a press conference this Friday (29), the coach detailed the reasons for not calling the Flamengo midfielder .

Bielsa on Flamengo's De La Cruz: "It's not appropriate to force him to play"

"De La Cruz's process is as follows: even though he's a reserve, he won't be called up. We understand he's healthy, but we believe it's best for him to get back to playing consistently at the club first . It's not appropriate to force him to play for the national team without first being fully reintegrated into competitive football," Bielsa stated.

The coach also highlighted the importance of the player, but reinforced that the preparation time between arrival and the game would be insufficient to use him at a high level, ensuring that it is necessary for the midfielder to return to his best competitive form at the club, before returning to the national team list.

THE CONTEXT OF THE CLINICAL SITUATION

De La Cruz's absence comes amid a recent episode. Last month, Flamengo 's then-doctor, José Luiz Runco, stated in a messaging group that the midfielder had a chronic and irreversible knee injury. The statement resonated nationwide, generating internal unease. The club fired the professional and intensified its support for the athlete.

DE LA CRUZ RETURNED TO PLAY FOR FLAMENGO

Recovered, the Uruguayan returned to wear the red-black shirt in the historic 8-0 victory over Vitória, last Monday (25). De La Cruz came on in the second half, played for 20 minutes, completed 95% of his passes and had 100% success in his throws.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

With the midfielder available again, Flamengo faces Grêmio this Sunday (31), at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã , valid for the 22nd round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be broadcast by Rede Globo (on open channel) and Premiere (pay-per-view).

São Paulo team aims to sign Flamengo defender - understand