Former Flamengo player, Gabigol becomes a reserve at Cruzeiro and the coach opens up: "You don't play..."

One of the great merits of Filipe Luís's work at Flamengo's helm is its defensive solidity . Under his leadership, the team has not been defeated this season, and Rossi is largely responsible for this. The Argentine goalkeeper is having a consistent year , with decisive performances and an impressive streak of clean sheets.

According to a survey released by the club this Tuesday (7), Rossi reached seven consecutive games without conceding goals in 2025 and established himself as the athlete with the most matches in the season, totaling 51 appearances so far.

ROSSI'S NUMBERS IN 2025

• 6 penalties saved in 14 shots
• 42% penalty success rate
• 7 consecutive matches without conceding a goal
• 29 clean sheets (games without conceding a goal)
• 28 goals conceded in total for the season

The term "clean sheet" originated in the Premier League and is used to define when a goalkeeper finishes a match without conceding a goal , and Rossi has already achieved this feat in 29 of his 51 matches this year for the "Mais Querido" (The Most Beloved). The only performance in which the number 1 conceded more goals was against Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup in June. On that occasion, Flamengo lost 4-2 in the round of 16 of the competition.

NEXT CHALLENGE

With Rossi on a high and a mainstay in the squad, Flamengo returns to the field on October 15th to face Botafogo at 7:30 pm (Brasília time) at Nilton Santos Stadium for the 28th round of the Brasileirão. The match will be broadcast on Premiere (pay-per-view), Record TV (open channel) and Cazé TV (YouTube).

The tension between Flamengo and Palmeiras has heated up again after new statements involving the political dispute in Libra, the league that brings together Brazilian football clubs. During a meeting of the Deliberative Council on Tuesday night (7), Flamengo president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as Bap, presented to the councilors data on the impasse with the entity and accused the group of disrespecting internal rules in the division of television revenues.

In addition to questioning the criteria adopted by Libra, the director took advantage of the meeting to provoke Leila Pereira, president of Palmeiras , citing an R$80 million loan from Crefisa, the company she owns, to Vasco da Gama's SAF.

" I have no doubt that there is a very clear agenda. The company she presides over lent money to Vasco's SAF . This needs to be questioned, especially when it comes to Financial Fair Play," Bap said, according to the UOL portal.

LEILA PEREIRA RESPONDS

The day after her statements, Leila Pereira publicly responded to the provocations. The president of the São Paulo club stated that she works to strengthen national soccer and emphasized that she always honors signed contracts, including those prior to her tenure.

"President Bap is right when he says I have a clear agenda. Everyone knows that I defend Palmeiras' interests without trying to stifle my opponents, and that I work hard for the growth of Brazilian football," Leila declared in an official statement.

The executive also mocked comments about a possible purchase of Vasco, denying any involvement with the Rio de Janeiro club. "He can rest assured. I'm not buying Vasco. In fact, I'm not buying Vasco or Netflix ," the businesswoman added mockingly.

DEADLOCK BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND LIBRA

The disagreement between Flamengo and Libra has been intensifying in recent weeks. The Rio de Janeiro club alleges irregularities in the approval of financial and administrative agendas within the entity, including alleged errors in assemblies and improper transfers. The case is likely to be taken to court, which could delay a potential agreement and increase political tension between the clubs.

Flamengo made significant investments in the last transfer window, bolstering a squad that was already among the strongest in the country. However, one area ended up taking a backseat: defense . Despite analyzing names and receiving suggestions for defenders, the board opted not to sign any reinforcements for the position at this time.

According to ge, the club assessed that there was no immediate need to invest in the sector , understanding that Filipe Luís already has three defenders at national team level. Despite this, the lack of options proved problematic.

DEFENSE UNDER INTENSE LOAD

Currently, the red-and-black squad has Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira as regular starters, with Danilo and Cleiton as bench options. Fans, however, are wary of the alternatives. Danilo has struggled physically and hasn't been able to play a regular game , while Cleiton, a product of Ninho do Urubu, is still seen as a developing athlete, far from reaching the level required by the main team.

This limitation of options has led the two starters, Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira , to play in almost every match, which increases wear and tear and concerns about the tight schedule , the duo even had a streak of 12 consecutive games.

BASE JEWELS CAN GAIN SPACE

According to ge, the topic should return to the board's agenda at the end of the season, when the need for defensive reinforcements will be reassessed . For now, the football department intends to focus on youth talents like João Victor and Iago, who should receive more opportunities in 2026.

The club's idea is to maintain the strategy of recent years, using the Campeonato Carioca as a showcase for promising young players and, gradually, also inserting them into the Brasileirão , which will now take place parallel to the state championship due to changes in the calendar.

Flamengo's hero at the U-20 World Cup, Iago is in a special phase and has been closely monitored by the coaching staff. João Victor, meanwhile, is internally considered the "future of the Flamengo defense." Despite this, both have received few chances in the first team under Filipe Luís.