Soccer

Is Ezequiel Barco's family a key player in the Flamengo deal? Understand

Spartak Moscow is playing hardball and is demanding at least 20 million euros to release the attacking midfielder, a figure equivalent to around R$130 million at the current exchange rate.

Barco has a history against Flamengo: in 2017, he scored the goal that gave Independiente the South American title, at the Maracanã stadium. Photo: Reproduction
Barco has a history against Flamengo: in 2017, he scored the goal that gave Independiente the South American title, at the Maracanã stadium. Photo: Reproduction

10 Jul 2025 | 22:03 |

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One of Flamengo's targets this transfer window is Spartak Moscow midfielder Esequiel Barco . In recent hours, Russian news outlet Sport Express revealed that the Argentine athlete wants to play for Flamengo to be closer to his family.


However, Spartak is playing hardball and is demanding at least €20 million to release him, equivalent to around R$130 million. Flamengo has already submitted a €14 million offer, which the Russians rejected, but is considering increasing its offer to €15 million, approximately R$97 million.


CLOSE TO FAMILY AND THE NATIONAL TEAM


Barco has a history against Flamengo : in 2017, he scored the goal that gave Independiente the Copa Sudamericana title at the Maracanã stadium. Today, at 26, he could swap the role of villain for protagonist at Gávea. After stints at Atlanta United and River Plate , the midfielder is currently playing for Spartak and also wants to return to South America to get on the radar of the Argentine national team.



FLAMENGO MAKES PLANS FOR THE WINDOW

This will be the first major transfer window for José Boto and his scouting department at Flamengo — at the beginning of the year, the football director didn't have time to prepare his team for the transfer window. This important moment is, curiously, also the most tense one for the club, which has experienced the first crisis of 2025 in recent weeks. Priorities are set, but there is a debate over the size of the club's investment in the window that opened this Thursday.

Boto revealed plans to sign a number 10 (Barco) who can alternate with Arrascaeta and a winger with skills in tight spaces. In this sense, the priority is a left winger.

In addition to these two positions, there is a third one monitored by the football department: a number 9 with different characteristics than Pedro and Juninho to suit Filipe Luís's game model, which has as its fundamental premise the pressure on the opponent's ball out.


Soccer

Filipe Luís explains the absence of reserve defenders in Flamengo games: "It wouldn't be fair"

Defeat at Maracanã forces Mais Querido to win away from home by two goals to continue in the competition and the coach explains about the youth team's defenders

Filipe Luís explains his decision on defense after Flamengo's defeat to Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 - photo: reproduction
Filipe Luís explains his decision on defense after Flamengo's defeat to Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 - photo: reproduction

01 Ago 2025 | 23:00 |

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Flamengo was defeated by Atlético-MG 1-0 on Thursday night (1), at Maracanã, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The result forces the Rio de Janeiro club to seek qualification away from home, at Arena MRV. To advance directly, the team needs to win by at least two goals. If they achieve a simple victory, the spot will be decided on penalties. A draw favors Galo.


During the post-match press conference, coach Filipe Luís commented on the decision to maintain the starting defensive formation against the Minas Gerais opponent. He said the decision was made considering the complexity of the match and the physical strain on the players.


"I think defense is a delicate area. I don't like to change the back line; I try to change it as little as possible. Considering the wear and tear you mentioned, there's also the opponent. They're a team that causes us a lot of problems in the back line," said the Flamengo coach.


DANGEROUS OPPONENT ATTACK

Filipe Luís also mentioned the defensive risks Atlético-MG's attack posed, highlighting the offensive prowess of players like Hulk, Rony, and Cuello . The decision to preserve the squad's young defenders was precisely due to this scenario.



Filipe Luís talks about Flamengo's youth defenders: "It wouldn't be fair to the kids"

" I didn't think it would be fair to the boys to play this game. I believe that always playing in defense is a more delicate situation, and the attack with Hulk, Rony, and Cuello would create difficulties for our back line. That's why I chose to keep them. But, if we need them against Ceará, or even in the second leg, I know we have João and Cleiton," added the coach.

FLAMENGO RETURNS TO THE FIELD FOR THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Before the reunion with Atlético-MG, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship this Sunday (03). The match will be against Ceará, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza, valid for the 18th round of the competition. The match will be broadcast live on the Premiere channel.


Soccer

Flamengo draws with Fortaleza in the first leg of the Brazilian Women's Under-20 Championship quarterfinals

In a tight game at Presidente Vargas Stadium, the teams remain tied at 0-0 and the decision for a place in the semifinals will be made in next week's match.

Flamengo players in action during the draw against Fortaleza in the Brasileirão Women's Under-20 Championship - photo: reproduction
Flamengo players in action during the draw against Fortaleza in the Brasileirão Women's Under-20 Championship - photo: reproduction

01 Ago 2025 | 22:00 |

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On Thursday afternoon (31), Flamengo Women faced Fortaleza at Presidente Vargas Stadium, in Fortaleza (CE), for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. The score ended 0-0 after 90 minutes of balance and intense marking , keeping the dispute for a place in the semifinals of the competition open. The decisive clash is scheduled for next week, in Rio de Janeiro.


The first half was marked by intense midfield battles and few clear-cut scoring opportunities. Despite their technically demanding efforts, Mais Querido struggled against the home team's strong marking.


The red-and-blacks ' best chances came from set pieces: a free kick taken by Carol Martins and a corner kick taken by Isabela Nunes , which ended with a header from Brendha and a good save from the opposing goalkeeper. The scoreless draw remained until halftime.


THE SECOND HALF WAS A TIGHT GAME

In the second half, Flamengo continued to try to open the scoring, but again encountered resistance from Fortaleza's defense. The game remained tight, with many physical duels and little attacking activity from either side. The substitutions made by coach Filipe Torres didn't have the desired effect, and the intensity of the match dropped considerably. In the end, in stoppage time, Isabela Nunes crossed to Emilly, who fought back, and Alice shot over the bar—the last real chance before the final whistle.


FOCUS ON THE STATE BEFORE THE DECISION

Before the decisive quarter-final match, Mengão debuts in the U-20 Women's Carioca Championship this Sunday (3), against União Central, at 11 am, in Gávea. The coaching staff takes advantage of the state duel to maintain the athletes' rhythm and adjust the team for the return match against Fortaleza, where only a victory guarantees direct qualification for the semi-final of the Brasileirão in the category.


Soccer

Filipe Luís reveals that the Copa do Brasil is not a priority at Flamengo: "I joined..."

After a 1-0 loss at Maracanã in the Copa do Brasil, the Mais Querido coach says he will try to reverse the score away from home and highlights planning

Filipe Luís highlights the squad's priorities and planning after Flamengo's defeat to Atlético-MG in the Copa do Brasil - photo: reproduction
Filipe Luís highlights the squad's priorities and planning after Flamengo's defeat to Atlético-MG in the Copa do Brasil - photo: reproduction

01 Ago 2025 | 21:30 |

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Flamengo lost 1-0 to Atlético-MG this Thursday (1st) at Maracanã in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Despite the negative result, coach Filipe Luís believes the match remains open and that Flamengo is fully capable of seeking qualification away from home. The second leg will be held at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte.




Filipe Luís reveals his goal at Flamengo: "Brazilian and Libertadores are priorities"


"The Brazilian Championship and the Libertadores are priorities, but I came in to win . Just like in the Ceará game, I'm prepared to win with the players I believe are the best. Of course, in the second leg, we'll try to turn things around. In my opinion, it's wide open. We know it's difficult to play in our opponent's stadium, but just as they won here, we can win there," said Filipe Luís in the post-match press conference.

DECISION TO SAVE HOLDERS


When asked about the absence of some important names in the match, the commander explained that the decision to rest players was made strategically , taking into account the physical wear and tear and the tactical fit thought out for the Flamengo match.

"It was a plan in which I decided on the players. None of them had been ruled out, but I believe that given their current run of form, it wouldn't be wise to play them today and Sunday as well. And also that they fit in with the game plan I had envisioned for the match. In the other game, Arrascaeta was on the field and didn't benefit from that plan. I opted for other changes, to rest him so he could have some training sessions and be in good shape next week," he added.

FLAMENGO NEEDS TO WIN

To qualify for the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals, Flamengo will have to beat Atlético-MG by two goals in Belo Horizonte. If the Rio de Janeiro team wins by just one goal, the match will go to penalties. A draw favors Atlético-MG, who have the advantage after the result at Maracanã.


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