Soccer
Flamengo targets Brazilian national team goalkeeper to strengthen squad in 2026
23 Set 2025 | 19:29
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Soccer
23 Set 2025 | 21:57 |
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Midfielder Erick Pulgar is close to returning to Flamengo. The Chilean player is recovering from a right foot injury he suffered in June during the Club World Cup against Bayern Munich. He is expected to be available to coach Filipe Luís in October, bolstering the Flamengo midfield for the remainder of the season.
In an interview with the newspaper O Globo, Pulgar highlighted the importance of his partnership with Filipe Luís in the process of tactical evolution . For the athlete, Italian football—where he played for several years—helped shape his vision of the game.
"Italian football is very tactical. It's like a game of chess; the smartest wins, not the strongest. There, the coach's intelligence wins. I said this to Filipe Luís: the player ends up becoming a coach on the field. He always tells me I have the mentality to be a future coach," he stated.
With the arrival of Saúl and Jorginho to the squad, Pulgar acknowledges that competition has increased , but emphasizes that he feels more prepared and respected within the group.
" Here I was able to develop further, gain more confidence and respect. There are players who, when you say something, take it the wrong way. That's not good for the team. When I arrived at Flamengo , there were David Luiz, Filipe Luís, and others who played in Europe. Talking to them opens your mind. I grew in this, gained the trust of my teammates, and on the field I'm a different person," he added.
The red-black delegation arrived in Buenos Aires this Tuesday (23) and continued to La Plata, where they are preparing for the second leg of the quarterfinals
23 Set 2025 | 21:41 |
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Flamengo's delegation landed in Argentina on Tuesday night (23), two days before the decisive Libertadores quarterfinal clash against Estudiantes. The flight chartered by the Rio de Janeiro club landed at one of Buenos Aires' airports , and then the players and coaching staff took a bus to La Plata. The journey took approximately one hour.
Disembarkation at the hotel took place around 8:45 p.m. The hotel has a tight security system, restricting access to the press and prohibiting the presence of Flamengo and rival fans. The hotel is located in a gated community with a gate located approximately 2 km from the main entrance.
Coach Filipe Luís has scheduled training in Argentina to finalize preparations. The squad traveled immediately after the morning's training session at CT Ninho do Urubu, in Rio de Janeiro. On Wednesday (24), the group will train at the Defensa y Justicia training center in Florencio Varela, to make tactical and technical adjustments for Thursday's (25) match.
The main addition to the squad list is the return of midfielder Jorginho. Having recovered from a physical issue, he has been cleared by the medical department and could start in the decisive match against Estudiantes.
After Thursday's game (25), the red-black delegation will remain in Argentina for extra training at the Defensa y Justicia training center. On Saturday, the group will travel directly to São Paulo, where they will face Corinthians on Sunday, in the 28th round of the Brazilian Championship. Before the match, the athletes will train at São Paulo's Barra Funda training center.
The team wins both games in the Argentine clash, guarantees a place in the semifinals and awaits the winner between Mengão and Estudiantes to decide the opponent.
23 Set 2025 | 21:25 |
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Flamengo only takes the field this Thursday (25) to decide its future in the Libertadores against Estudiantes, but it already knows who its next opponent could be. Racing, from Avellaneda, eliminated Vélez Sarsfield in an all-Argentine clash and now awaits the winner of the duel between Rubro-Negro and the club from La Plata.
In the first leg, played away from home, Racing won 1-0. In the return leg, on Tuesday, they repeated the scoreline, this time in front of their home fans . While Adrián Martínez had scored in the opening match, Solari scored the goal that secured their place in the semifinals.
Avellaneda's team dominated the first half, cheered on by the crowd, but failed to find the net against goalkeeper Marchiori, a standout performer for Vélez with some solid saves. Racing had 13 shots before halftime, all to no avail.
In the second half, Vélez began to attack more. In the 17th minute, goalkeeper Cambeses nearly made a mistake by misplacing a shot from Machuca , but VAR confirmed the ball didn't go in, keeping the score unchanged. The move alarmed the home side, who regained composure and control of the game.
In the 31st minute, Sosa headed a free kick against the post. Five minutes later, the pressure paid off: Gabriel Rojas advanced down the left and crossed low for Solari to score the winning goal. With the score open, Vélez had no strength to react, and Racing controlled the result until the final whistle.
With the victory, the Avellaneda team celebrates its place in the Libertadores semifinals and awaits the match between Flamengo and Estudiantes to find out its next opponent in the continental tournament.
Uruguayan full-back considered leaving Flamengo, but support from Filipe Luís, a new role on the field and identification with the club changed the scenario and resulted in a contract
23 Set 2025 | 20:32 |
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Guillermo Varela is experiencing one of his most important moments since arriving at Flamengo. The Uruguayan right-back has signed a contract extension until December 2027 , cementing his tenure at the club. Before Filipe Luís took over as coach, the player was seriously considering not renewing his contract and ending his tenure at Flamengo, but the coach's confidence has completely changed his outlook.
Behind the scenes, the relationship he built with Filipe Luís was crucial. From his first days in charge of the team, the former full-back became close to Varela , conveying support and emphasizing his importance to the group. Direct conversations and the coach's support led the player to rethink his future and opt to stay with the Rio de Janeiro club.
On the field, Varela has also been attracting attention for his versatility . Recently tested as a defensive midfielder, he demonstrated intensity and dedication, even though he acknowledged that the new role wouldn't be technically perfect. His adaptation and commitment were praised by teammates and the coaching staff, increasing his value within the squad.
In addition to his original position at right-back, Varela has also played on the left and now in midfield, becoming a versatile asset for Filipe Luís. This ability to perform in different roles was one of the factors that convinced the board to offer him a longer contract , reinforcing the club's vision of continuity.
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