EVERTON RIBEIRO ON VICTORY AGAINST SANTOS: 'WE NEEDED TO GIVE THIS ANSWER'

Flamengo has officially extended the contract of Pablo Lúcio, a 17-year-old midfielder who has excelled in the youth teams and has already participated in pre-season training with the main squad. The new contract, signed this week, is valid until December 2030. The renewal represents a strategic move by the club to secure internal talent, especially at a time when the eyes of the European market are increasingly on the youngsters trained at Ninho do Urubu.

Pablo's previous contract ran until the end of 2027. The extension for another two and a half seasons is a step forward in Flamengo's plan to consolidate the training cycle by retaining high-potential athletes. The previous termination clause was 50 million euros, but the new amount has not yet been officially announced.

A JEWEL IN THE RED-BLACK BARN

Pablo is considered internally as one of the biggest projects in the youth team. Having played a leading role in the latest competitions in the category, he gained even more visibility after winning the U-20 Libertadores with the red-and-black team. The board understands that the contractual value is consistent with the athlete's technical and market projection.

Pablo's story with Flamengo began in Curitiba. As a child, he combined futsal with soccer. His first big step came at Trieste, Flamengo's partner club in the capital of Paraná. It took him only four months to arouse the interest of the Rubro-Negro, who decided to integrate him into the youth teams in Rio.

A GREAT CHANCE TO LIVE

At Ninho, the boy grew up as a midfielder, but also played on the wings at times. Over time and under the observation of Filipe Luís, he began to play more centrally, as a second defensive midfielder — a role that better exploits his vision of the game and intensity in marking.

Flamengo is going through a process of reducing its squad and, in this scenario, Pablo is one of the names that should leave the club in the next few days. The 32-year-old defender, who is not in the plans of Filipe's coaching staff, has already been informed that he will not be used in the second half of the year. Representatives of the player have started talks with Athletico-PR, a club with which Pablo has a strong identification and which currently plays in the Série B of the Brazilian Championship.

The information was published by journalist Vinicius Furlan from Curitiba and confirmed by sources linked to the defender's staff. However, the high salary is an obstacle. Pablo receives amounts that are considered unrealistic for Furacão's current budget for the Second Division. Therefore, the alternative under discussion involves Flamengo paying part of the salary or a renegotiation to reduce the amounts until the end of the year.

PROPOSALS ON THE TABLE

The financial situation of Athletico-PR, which is going through a transitional year and is betting on young people, is a determining factor in the negotiations. Internally, Pablo's name is seen favorably, but the board is cautious before moving forward with any type of formal proposal. Pablo has a contract with Flamengo until December of this year and, at the moment, continues to train at different times than the rest of the main group. On some days, he also does physical activities on his own, outside of Ninho do Urubu.

The last time the defender took to the field was during the Campeonato Carioca, in the alternative team put together for the start of the state championship. After that, he was removed from the list of players and began looking for a new destination to play regularly. Since being signed from Lokomotiv Moscow, from Russia, in 2022, Pablo has not managed to establish himself with the Flamengo shirt . In total, he has played 51 matches and recorded only one assist. He has never scored as a player for Flamengo.

A DIFFERENCE IN THE MOST LOVED

Last year, he was loaned to Botafogo, but his time there was disappointing. He only played 28 minutes on the field in nine months, without finding a place under Luís Castro, the rival's coach at the time. He returned to Flamengo at the end of his contract, still with a valid contract. With Léo Pereira, Danilo, Léo Ortiz and Cleiton available, the red-and-black defense is well served. In addition, names like Iago and Darlan are emerging as options from the youth team, which has further reduced Pablo's chances of being used.

Palmeiras may have a major headache for the direct clash against Flamengo , at Allianz Parque. One of the most talked-about reinforcements of the squad in 2024, Felipe Anderson left the match against Ceará, on Thursday night (22), for the Copa do Brasil, injured. The number 8 left the field after just 11 minutes of the first half, with pain in his thigh.

A STRONGER CAST

While still on the bench, he began treatment with ice, which usually indicates muscle discomfort. Tests should be carried out this Friday (23) to assess the severity of the injury. The coaching staff is awaiting the results to know if they will be able to count on the midfielder on Sunday. Internally, the mood is one of caution. Although he did not leave the field limping, the player reported considerable discomfort.

If he is not fit to play, Felipe will be the third major absence for Verdão this weekend. Richard Rios is suspended due to a third yellow card, while Abel Ferreira will not be able to lead the team on the pitch after being sent off in the derby against São Paulo. Assistant João Martins, as usual, will take over as coach of the team. The Portuguese has led the team on other occasions and knows the squad well.

FILIPE MAY HAVE A GOOD MOMENT

On Flamengo 's side, the mood is more positive. After the victory over Botafogo-PB, which guaranteed qualification for the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, Rubro-Negro returned this Thursday (22) at Ninho do Urubu. Preparations for the game against Palmeiras have already begun, with a total focus on the physical recovery of the starters. The tendency is for Filipe Luís to field full strength, with possible adjustments considering the characteristics of the synthetic turf at Allianz.

The condition of the pitch is a recurring concern for the technical committee of the red-and-black team. In previous seasons, players such as Bruno Henrique and Gabigol have been spared from matches at the stadium due to a history of muscle discomfort on artificial pitches. Despite this, the initial plan is to go with the best available. The committee evaluates each player individually and, if necessary, can adjust the team the day before the match.