
Soccer
04 Mai 2025 | 10:04 |
Flamengo 's board of directors has been working hard behind the scenes to maintain the current squad. While the focus on the market remains on planning the Super Club World Cup, some important names within the group are starting to have their contractual situations defined. And the first on the list, in this new cycle, is Guillermo Varela.
The Uruguayan right-back is in advanced negotiations to renew his contract with the club until December 2027. The deal is being treated internally as being in progress and should be made official in the coming days. The information was initially released by Venê Casagrande and confirmed by sources at the club.
Varela was one of the pleasant surprises during the transition of technical command. With Tite's departure and Filipe Luís 's appointment as coach in 2024, the defender has once again gained space in the team and has started to appear more frequently among the starters. The appreciation of the number 2 is directly due to Filipe Luís's vision, who has praised the player's professionalism and dedication in training . In addition, the coach highlighted Varela's versatility, as he has even been used as a left back in times of need.
Despite having a contract valid until the end of 2025, the idea of the renewal is to protect the athlete and avoid attempts by foreign clubs. With the new contract, Flamengo also ensures more peace of mind in assembling the squad for the next season. Varela's name has gained traction in recent weeks within the football department. The coaching staff sees the Uruguayan as a ready, reliable player who has adapted to the club, which has influenced the decision to stay.
José Boto, the executive director of football, has been leading the renewal process with the player's staff. After starting the year focused on extending Gerson's contract, Boto is now focusing his efforts on resolving specific issues within the main group. In Gerson's case, the board took months to work out an agreement that satisfied all parties. The situation with Varela, however, is progressing more smoothly, with alignment between the club, player and agent since the first talks.
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
01 Ago 2025 | 23:00 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
01 Ago 2025 | 22:00 |
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.
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.
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.
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
01 Ago 2025 | 21:30 |
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.
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.
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.