Back to Flamengo? Willian Arão leaves Greek football and could return to Brazil

Former Flamengo coach and now in charge of Wolverhampton, Portuguese Vítor Pereira had his contract renewed for another three seasons . The announcement was made this Thursday (18) and comes as recognition for the work last season, when he started a series of victories and saved the team from relegation.

Vítor Pereira, ex-Flamengo, after renewing with Wolverhampton: "It's an honor for me"

Despite a disastrous start to the Premier League season , with four defeats in four games, the board decided to continue with the manager, viewing the renewal as a vote of confidence . Wolves currently sits at the bottom of the table.

"I'm very proud to be the Wolves manager. It's an honor for me. This is the club that gave me the chance to reach the Premier League , the best league in the world," said Vitor Pereira, who had a turbulent time at Flamengo .

Aware of the delicate situation, the coach emphasized the need for unity to try to turn the season around: "This is the moment we need to be together. We are a city with one club, and this city loves football . It's a passion. This spirit is what we need to cultivate to compete with the best teams in this league."

CAST WITH BRAZILIAN PRESENCE

In addition to the coach, Wolverhampton also has former Flamengo player João Gomes . Pereira also has midfielder André, formerly of Fluminense, and striker Jhon Arias, the latter a Colombian but with a notable stint at the Tricolor das Laranjeiras.

SEARCH FOR REACTION IN THE SEASON

With the renewal signed, the coach has the mission of getting Wolves back on track. So far, defeats to Manchester City, Bournemouth, Everton, and Newcastle have marked the start of the Premier League season. The only positive news came in the English League Cup, with the qualification against West Ham . The next match will be this Saturday (20), at 11 am (Brasília time), against Leeds United, at Molineux. In the League Cup, Wolves will face Everton on Tuesday (23), at 3:45 pm.

Just over two months after leaving Flamengo for Zenit St. Petersburg, Russia, midfielder Gerson faces an unusual scenario in his career . At Flamengo, he was a regular starter and even made it to the Brazilian national team based on his performance in domestic football. In Europe, however, the situation has changed.

At Zenit, the player lost his place, became a reserve, and, as a result, wasn't included in Carlo Ancelotti's last call-up for the national team . The situation has worsened in recent weeks. In the Russian club's four most recent matches—against Orenburg, Pari NN, Baltika, and Akhmat Grozny—Gerson wasn't even included in the squad, even sitting on the bench.

His absence is even more noteworthy because the midfielder is eager to play in the next World Cup. A further absence, however, could jeopardize his chances of returning to the national team . Gerson's future at Zenit remains uncertain, and we'll have to follow the next chapters of his journey.

NEGOTIATION IS NOT RULED OUT

After just two months in Russia, midfielder Gerson could change clubs again. According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Al Ittihad (SAU) has begun talks to try to sign the player , who is considered a priority in the final stretch of the Saudi Arabian transfer window.

HOW WAS GERSON'S DEPARTURE FROM FLAMENGO ANNOUNCED?

On July 4, the club published an official statement confirming the departure of the then captain, highlighting that the decision came from the athlete himself , who submitted a resignation and unilateral termination request, paid by the Russians, without having any negotiation with Mais Querido.

On social media, Flamengo was direct and thanked the midfielder for the time he defended Manto : "Clube de Regatas do Flamengo announces the end of the contract with the athlete Gerson. The Mais Querido thanks him for the time he defended Manto and wishes the player good luck."

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.