Former Flamengo player plans to meet Rubro-Negro again at the Club World Cup: "a very special moment"

This Wednesday (6), Atlético-MG and Flamengo take to the field for the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2025 Copa do Brasil, at 7 pm (Brasília time), at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte. The match will be broadcast live on Sportv and Premiere.

In the first leg, played at Maracanã, the Minas Gerais team won 1-0 and now needs only a draw to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Rubro-Negro, led by Filipe Luís , needs a simple one-goal victory to take the final to penalties. If they win by two or more goals, they advance directly to the next round.

FLAMENGO HAS SHORTAGES

The red-and-black team will have significant absences for the match. Bruno Henrique and Luiz Araújo were left out of the squad due to workload management, due to the high number of games accumulated this season.

With that, coach Filipe Luís will need to find solutions to maintain the team's offensive play and seek victory away from home . The Mais Querido hasn't won in two consecutive games (Atlético-MG and Ceará).

ATLÉTICO-MG PACKED

On the other hand, Atlético-MG is enjoying a good run of form under Cuca . After winning their first match against Flamengo , the team returned to the field last weekend and defeated Red Bull Bragantino 2-1 in a Brazilian Championship match.

On Tuesday night (5), midfielder Reinier, 23 , landed at Confins International Airport, in Minas Gerais, to undergo medical examinations and sign a contract with Atlético-MG. The contract will last four and a half years , and the player is just waiting for the regularization to be available to the technical committee.

"I was trying to find my happiness. I'd been on loan for five years. I wasn't happy. Bracks was chasing me, and so was Victor, valuing me. I talked to Cuca. I'm very happy with the project and I think it's going to be a great success," he declared.

ATLÉTICO ACQUIRES 50% OF THE RIGHTS

Negotiations between Atlético-MG and Real Madrid were concluded in recent days. The Minas Gerais club acquired 50% of the player's economic rights, while the other 50% remains with the Spanish club. Reinier had been under contract with Real since January 2020, when he was sold by Flamengo for €30 million (approximately R$136 million at the time).

Despite the high expectations surrounding his arrival in Europe, the midfielder never played any official matches for Real Madrid's first team. In recent years, he has had spells at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Girona, and Frosinone, all on loan.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

A Flamengo product, Reinier was nurtured by the Rio de Janeiro club, where he stood out in the 2019 squad that won the Libertadores and Brasileirão titles . His multi-million dollar move to European football generated high expectations, but his time away from home has not been as consistent as expected.

Atlético-MG and Flamengo will star, this Wednesday (6), at 7 pm (Brasília time), in one of the most anticipated clashes of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The match will take place at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte , with live broadcast on the Sportv and Premiere channels.

In the first leg, played at Maracanã, Galo won 1-0, meaning they have the advantage of a draw to secure their spot in the quarterfinals. The Rio de Janeiro team needs a two-goal victory to qualify in normal time, or a one-goal victory to take the final to penalties.

During his appearance on the Sportv program "Fechamento," former midfielder Felipe Melo commented on the match between the Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro teams. While he wouldn't give an exact score, he highlighted Atlético-MG's favoritism, especially given their result in the first leg. "Because of the score from the first leg, Atlético has the advantage and will advance to the next stage ," the commentator stated.

FLAMENGO DEALS WITH ABSENCE

On the other side, Flamengo arrives under pressure and with important absences . Coach Filipe Luís will be without Bruno Henrique and Luiz Araújo, both rested due to fitness issues related to fatigue management, due to the intense sequence of matches.

FIVE-TIME WORLD CUP CHAMPION

Despite the absences, the Rio de Janeiro team is looking to uphold its tradition in the tournament. Flamengo has won the Copa do Brasil five times: 1990, 2006, 2013, 2022, and 2024, and is looking to add to its trove of titles in 2025.