Filipe Luís could make a drastic change in defense for Flamengo's debut in the Libertadores

Flamengo was involved in lengthy negotiations with Zenit of Russia at the start of the European season, aiming to sell midfielder Gerson. During the negotiations, the St. Petersburg club attempted to include midfielder Wendel as a way to reduce the Brazilian player's release clause. However, the Rio de Janeiro club rejected the offer.

According to information from the Russian news outlet Vedomosti, Flamengo rejected Wendel's inclusion in the deal and demanded full payment of Gerson's contractual clause. As a result, Zenit paid €25 million—equivalent to approximately R$160 million at the current exchange rate.

ZENIT PUTS WENDEL UP FOR SALE AND SETS PRICE

Despite Flamengo 's refusal, Wendel remains at Zenit, but with permission to look for a new team. The Russian club put the 27-year-old Brazilian midfielder on the market and set a price of €30 million (approximately R$194.1 million) to release him.

It's worth remembering that Botafogo was close to signing the player earlier this year. The Rio de Janeiro team had finalized all the details with Zenit, offering €20 million (R$129.4 million at the time). However, the deal was unsuccessful in May due to political restrictions involving the Russian club's management.

Mengão has expressed interest in signing Wendel on two recent occasions. On both occasions, the midfielder reached contract terms with the Rio de Janeiro club, but Zenit's demands prevented negotiations from progressing.

RUBRO-NEGRO TEAM CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR REINFORCEMENTS

While the transfer market movements continue, Flamengo's squad remains focused on the season's commitments. This Saturday (12), at 4:30 pm (Brasília time), the team faces São Paulo at Maracanã , in a match valid for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship.

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.

In the debut of coach Bruno Pivetti, Flamengo drew 2-2 with Botafogo, in a match valid for the 17th round of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. The Rio de Janeiro classic took place on Thursday night (10), at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium, on Ilha do Governador, and had as a highlight midfielder Matheus Gonçalves, author of the two goals for Rubro-Negro.

In his first match in charge of the under-20 team, Pivetti had names that had already played for the main team , such as number 10 Matheus Gonçalves, defender João Victor and midfielder Joshua, as well as goalkeeper Leo Nannetti, who started on the bench.

The first shot of the match came from Matheus Gonçalves in the 11th minute, with a powerful shot that sailed wide of the right side of Botafogo's goal. However, it was Botafogo who opened the scoring: in the 17th minute, Kayke capitalized on a counterattack from the right and found the net.

After an individual play, Matheus Gonçalves found the corner with a shot from outside the box and tied the classic in the 35th minute. Before halftime, Gusttavo tried to score from a rebound, and Lucas Furtado still saved the team from conceding the second, with a good save.

FLASH GOAL IN THE FINAL STAGE

After the break, Flamengo quickly turned the game around. In the third minute, Matheus Gonçalves received the ball from Lorran, cut to the left, and finished accurately into the top corner , scoring another stunning goal. Despite the lead, Mengão was unable to extend its lead.

The team attempted attacks down the wings, but to no avail. In the 25th minute, Fabiano came close to scoring from a rebounded cross, but the ball sailed over the goal. The punishment came in the 35th minute, when Ruan Sacramento capitalized on Botafogo's first dangerous play of the second half and tied the match, making the score 2-2.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT COMMITMENT

With the result, Flamengo reached 27 points and occupies sixth place in the table of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship . The team's next commitment will be against Atlético-MG, on Monday (14), at 8 pm, again at the Luso Brasileiro Stadium.