FORMER FLAMENGO, LUCAS PAQUETÁ TALKS ABOUT FAVORITISM BETWEEN BRAZIL AND ENGLAND AND GOING AGAIN TO FACE A EUROPEAN

Last Thursday (4), Uruguay beat Peru 3-0 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, securing their place in the next World Cup . Arrascaeta started and scored the second goal of the match, remaining on the field for 69 minutes. With the result, the Celeste Olímpica joins Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay as representatives of South America. Venezuela and Bolivia are already competing for a place in the play-offs.

After the victory, Marcelo Bielsa praised the midfielder's performance and highlighted the Gávea club's role in the athlete's recovery, as he had faced physical problems in recent years. The coach made a point of thanking the club's professionals for their work.

“ Regarding Arrascaeta, I would like to give special recognition to Flamengo's technical and medical staff, who have made Arrascaeta a different player this season, this year, than the one I initially knew ,” said Bielsa.

COACH PRAISES REGULARITY

Bielsa highlighted the player's development, emphasizing his importance to both the national team and the club. " Today, he's a player like I'd heard before. And only this year have I been able to see him in terms of his trajectory , what people say about him, and what he's done for the national team. He's very valuable, but what he does at Flamengo , playing twice a week, scoring goals, providing assists... He's a player who, in this form, is very good," the coach added.

ARRASCAETA'S NUMBERS IN THE SEASON

Enjoying one of the best moments of his career, the Uruguayan has played 42 games for Mengão in 2024, 37 of them as a starter. The midfielder has excelled in goalscoring and consistent performances, solidifying his position as a key player in the team's strategy.

Three weeks ago, Juninho's representatives presented the club with two loan offers from Arab football . The board, however, rejected the proposals, making it clear that they would only agree to a permanent deal for the striker for a fair fee. Thus, despite previously being on the "expendable" list, the player remained on the roster and will be reused.

Despite the limited opportunities he's had on the pitch so far, Filipe Luís expresses confidence in Juninho. The coach noted that the striker has performed well in training and is maintaining good physical shape. He is expected to return to the squad and earn playing time in the Brazilian Championship. It's worth noting that his signing was approved by the coaching staff at the time.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE PRIORITIZES INTERNAL SOLUTIONS

Bruno Henrique's suspension is unlikely to result in any market movements. Mengão was already considering the possibility of losing the number 27 and believes the current squad offers sufficient alternatives. Filipe Luís believes Pedro has reached his peak physical form and can assume a greater offensive role , while Gonzalo Plata and Wallace Yan are options for the midfield. Furthermore, Juninho will be reinstated in the Brasileirão squad.

DETAILS OF THE STJD DECISION

The Superior Court of Sports Justice sentenced Bruno Henrique this Thursday (29) to a 12-game suspension and the payment of a fine of R$60,000 . The decision is valid for national competitions, such as the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil, but does not affect, for now, the Libertadores.

However, the case is expected to be referred to FIFA . If the governing body agrees to extend the ban, the striker will also be barred from international matches, increasing the impact of the punishment for Mengão.

Goalkeeper Bruno, a former Flamengo player , has returned to soccer, this time in an amateur tournament. After a period marked by one of the most controversial cases in Brazilian sports , the athlete is trying to find his place in a new arena.

The former goalkeeper's career gained notoriety both for his performance on the field and for the tragic episode involving the death of his ex-wife , Elisa Samudio, which culminated in his arrest and great national repercussion.

Rive Club recently officially announced the signing of Bruno for the 2025 Municipal de Alegre Championship. The board expressed enthusiasm for the new signing, citing the player's experience and technical ability. " The Rive board is pleased to announce goalkeeper Bruno as another addition to the Municipal de Alegre Championship 2025 ," the team announced on social media.

BRUNO'S FIRST WORDS

In a message to fans, the goalkeeper expressed excitement and gratitude for the opportunity. " Hello, Alegre! Beautiful and wonderful city. Hello, Rive fan. I want to tell you that I'm committed to the Municipal Championship. Next Sunday I'll be there defending Rive's colors, and we'll begin our journey, " he declared.

UNDERSTAND THE CONVICTION

In March 2013, Bruno was sentenced to 22 years and three months in prison for the murder of Eliza Samudio . The court found him guilty of triple homicide, kidnapping, and concealment of a corpse.

The former goalkeeper was granted habeas corpus in February 2017 , but returned to prison two months later, following a decision by the First Chamber of the Supreme Federal Court. In July 2019, he was granted the right to progress to a semi-open prison regime. He has been on parole since January 2023.