Former Flamengo player Gerson reaches a negative mark at Zenit and his departure is not ruled out.

Gabigol, ex-Flamengo, was once again the protagonist for Cruzeiro . Last Monday (15), the striker scored a great goal from outside the area , in the 40th minute of the second half, guaranteeing a 2-1 victory over Bahia and keeping the Minas Gerais team firm in the pursuit of the Brasileirão leader Betano.

With the result, Cruzeiro remains just three points behind Flamengo , and Gabigol's performance was praised behind the scenes. Director of football Pedrinho BH highlighted the importance of the number 99 and reinforced the desire to count on him for next season as well .

Despite his good form, the 29-year-old forward preferred to remain cautious about the future. In a post-match interview, he stated that he will only speak with the board in December , leaving the decision regarding 2026 open.

SAF OWNER WANTS TO REMAIN

Gabigol arrived at Cruzeiro in January as a major reinforcement for the team, but he alternated between starting and playing as a reserve throughout the season, especially after the rise of Kaio Jorge , the Brasileirão's top scorer with 15 goals. Even so, Pedrinho BH and other directors remain confident in the striker's continued presence, as he is considered a key player for 2026.

Former Flamengo player Gabigol left Rio de Janeiro at the end of 2024 after losing his place, despite being instrumental in historic victories such as the 2019 and 2022 Copa Libertadores , scoring goals in both finals. A national idol, the striker is now trying to rebuild his career in Belo Horizonte. Those close to him assure that he isn't considering an immediate exit.

DECISION AT THE END OF THE SEASON

Behind the scenes, the club's board believes Gabigol will honor his contract and remain with the team. However, the final decision will rest with the player himself . Negotiations are expected to resume only at the end of the season, when the club will conduct a performance evaluation and outline its plan for 2026.

Flamengo's criticism of the refereeing performance in the duel against Estudiantes continues to resonate. This Friday (19), after Plata was released for the return game by Conmebol , football director José Boto returned to comment on the mistakes made by Andrés Rojas at Maracanã and expressed concern about the match in Argentina , valid for the quarterfinals of the Libertadores.

José Boto on the return between Flamengo and Estudiantes: "I'm apprehensive about what they might do away from home"

"It was unfair to Plata and to us as well. Honestly, I'm very worried about the return leg . Because if a referee can do that in our home stadium, in an almost arrogant manner, I'm worried about what they might do away from home, in Argentina," he said in an interview with SporTV.

WHAT HAPPENED AT MARACANÃ?

The referee failed to award a penalty to Samuel Lino in the first half and issued a series of yellow cards to the Flamengo team. However, the most controversial incident occurred in the second half, when Plata was fouled inside the box and was sent off. Instead of awarding the penalty, Rojas showed the Ecuadorian a second yellow card, sparking outrage among Flamengo players and management.

MANAGER WAS REMOVED BY THE POLICE

Boto also said he tried to speak directly with Andrés Rojas after the final whistle, questioning Plata's sending-off and the different standards throughout the match. However, according to him, the referee's response was to ask the police to remove him: " I politely asked about the standards, and he arrogantly requested police protection . There was a series of behaviors that did not seem normal to us," the official stated.

CONTROVERSIAL MOVES

Among the most controversial incidents for Flamengo was Facundo Farías's harsh foul on Arrascaeta, which could have resulted in the Argentine full-back's expulsion . The director highlighted that, at that moment, the fourth official advised coach Eduardo Domínguez to substitute the player to avoid a red card.

"It's not normal. There was a brutal challenge on Arrascaeta, which should have resulted in a second yellow card and a red card. And then the fourth official instructed the opposing coach to substitute the player . This behavior seemed very strange to us," Boto added.

With his full focus on Flamengo, coach Filipe Luís turned down a multi-million dollar offer from Fenerbahçe of Turkey. Meanwhile, the Flamengo board is working to renew the coach's contract. The interest is mutual and reinforces the former full-back's desire to remain at the helm .

JORGE MENDES IN THE PLAY

During the last FIFA World Cup, sporting director José Boto traveled to Portugal to discuss the matter . In Lisbon, he met with businessman Jorge Mendes, Filipe Luís 's agent and Cristiano Ronaldo's former agent. Negotiating the contract extension was a priority behind the scenes.

The contract is expected to be extended initially until December 2027, with the possibility of an extension until the end of 2028. This month, Filipe Luís will complete one year at Flamengo 's helm. A sore point in the negotiations involves the termination fee . Currently, the amount is equivalent to only three months' salary, a figure considered low given the foreign pressure. The coach's salary has not been officially revealed, but it is approximately what he received at the beginning of his time at Flamengo's youth academy.

CONVERSATIONS SHOULD CONTINUE IN OCTOBER

The next round of talks is scheduled for October, again during the Brazilian national team's break. The Turkish proposal served as a warning to the football department , as Fenerbahçe signaled a fee up to ten times higher than the coach's current salary.

It's worth remembering that Filipe Luís took over after the departure of Tite, whose coaching staff cost the club approximately R$2.5 million per month. Since then, he has established himself as a central figure in the club's project. Competing simultaneously in the Libertadores and the Brazilian Championship , the coach could close 2025 with up to five titles in just over a year on the job.