Exclusive: Gabigol's renewal with Flamengo remains undefined and could extend until the end of the Brasileirão

Flamengo said goodbye to the Copa do Brasil after being eliminated by Atlético-MG on penalties, last Wednesday (6), at Arena MRV. The Mais Querido, which prioritized other competitions in the season , ends its participation earlier than planned. Since 2016, the club has at least reached the quarterfinals, including three consecutive finals in recent years.

With the relegation, the team earned R$5,953,500.00 in the competition, well below the amount projected in the 2025 budget , which predicted at least a spot in the semifinals and a prize pool of R$20,616,750.00. In 2024, Rubro-Negro earned around R$93 million during the title campaign.

Despite the negative financial impact, the deficit was offset by a better-than-expected performance in the Club World Cup . Initially, the club only projected a group stage, but advanced to the round of 16, only to be eliminated by Bayern Munich. The campaign generated US$7.5 million (approximately R$41 million), a figure that more than covers the nearly R$15 million lost from the Copa do Brasil.

CLUB PRIORITIZES BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

From now on, Flamengo will focus its efforts on two fronts: the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Libertadores da América. In Serie A, the team is tied on points with Cruzeiro, with one round remaining in the first round. In the continental tournament, their opponent in the round of 16 will be Internacional, and the goal is to reach at least the semifinals.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

Rubro-Negro's next match will be on Saturday (9), when they face Mirassol at Maracanã, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship. The expectation is that a large crowd will support the team in its quest to maintain its leadership.

On Wednesday night (6), Flamengo beat Atlético-MG 1-0 at Arena MRV , equaling the aggregate score at 1-1 and taking the decision of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil to penalties. In the penalties, the Minas Gerais team won 4-3 and advanced to the semifinals.

Young Wallace Yan , the protagonist of recent controversies with Galo players, missed the penalty that sealed Mengão's elimination. After the match, Hulk commented on the arguments and denied any animosity with the red-and-black striker .

"I have nothing against Wallace Yan. I tried to tell him he's a very talented kid , but he wouldn't listen. Sometimes the press ends up taking jabs at us. There's no such thing as a player fighting against another; what we try to do is offer advice..." said Hulk, before detailing an incident involving a disagreement on the field.

ATLÉTICO-MG STRIKER HIGHLIGHTS TALENT

Galo's number 7 stated that Wallace Yan's potential is evident , but that his immaturity could hinder his development in professional football. Despite Hulk's 'criticism', the player remains protected behind the scenes at Flamengo .

"But he's a very talented kid, maybe because he's at a very big club and has been promoted so young , you don't have a strong mentality and end up being influenced. I hope he stays focused, because he has a long way to go to become a great player. He needs to keep his head strong, otherwise it will end up ruining his performance," Hulk added.

TOTAL FOCUS ON THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Now, with the Copa do Brasil off the calendar, Flamengo turns its attention to the Brasileirão. The next challenge will be on Saturday (9), against Mirassol, at 6:30 pm, at Maracanã, for the 18th round. The expectation is a large crowd to support the team in the fight to maintain the top of the table.

A day after being eliminated in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, Spaniard Saúl Ñíguez took to social media to speak out. Flamengo beat Atlético-MG 1-0 in regulation time but lost 4-3 on penalties at Arena MR V, eliminating them from the competition.

In a post addressed to the Nação Rubro-Negra (Red-Black Nation), the player expressed the squad's feelings and reinforced the importance of the support received. "Any words will not be enough. It wasn't what we expected... now it's time to lift our heads and look forward . Thank you for your support and constant energy," wrote the midfielder.

SAÚL ÑÍGUEZ'S PERFORMANCE

Saúl played his third match for the Sacred Mantle since joining as a new signing for the season. He came on in the 20th minute of the second half, replacing Gonzalo Plata, and had a low-key performance: he had 12 ball possessions and completed six passes in nine attempts.

Despite a lackluster performance in regulation time, the Spaniard showed composure in the penalty shootout. Taking the third penalty, he beat goalkeeper Everson and gave the Mais Querido a partial 3-2 lead. However, errors by Samuel Lino and Wallace Yan ultimately sealed the elimination of Filipe Luís's team.

SAUL'S INITIAL TRAJECTORY

Saúl's time at the club is still recent. His debut took place in the first leg against Atlético-MG, at Maracanã, in a 1-0 defeat. He also played in the 1-1 draw against Ceará, in the Brasileirão, last Sunday (3).