
Grassroots Soccer
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The Boys do Ninho of the Under-20s embark on another challenge in 2024. Season with a full calendar, competing in all possible competitions, Flamengo travels on Wednesday to the Conmebol Libertadores dispute, in Uruguay. Coach Mario Jorge spoke about the preparation and what he expects from the team, which is in group C together with Aucas-EQU, Sporting Cristal-PER and Defensor-URU, based in Maldonado.
Since the return of the Copa São Paulo of Junior Football, and representing the professional team in the Campeonato Carioca at the end of January and contributing to the undefeated campaign in the competition, Mengão's U20s have already been preparing for the main tournament of 2024. In the last week before the trip to Maldonado, the preparation intensified. Although Mengão's debut will be on 03/04, at 6pm (Brasília time), the delegation travels this Wednesday (28th) to Uruguay to follow Conmebol protocols.
GAROTOS DO FLAMENGO LEAVES BRAZIL WITH VICTORY
The Garotos do Ninho faced Madureira during this phase of the team's preparation for the Conmebol Libertadores, winning 4-0 with goals from Weliton (2x), Zé Welinton and Wallace Yan . The team took a 3-0 lead in the first half.
- We were able to contemplate everything we had planned for that moment. Having the boys down here, especially Rayan, Lorran and Carbone returning from professional training, gave a greater balance to the team that missed these players a little. With Madureira's U20s we behaved very well. We defined there what the teams would do in each half. So the first half was very good and the second half too, but the first half had a little advantage – said the coach who also added:
- There are still some things to happen until then. Some players had a virus, others were injured, but they will have time to be treated until then. However, I think we managed to take care of everything. We surround ourselves with all possible physical, clinical, technical and tactical care, and I believe that we will reach a position to grow within the competition itself. I expect a very committed, very competitive team, where the boys are very committed to what they have to do. So I believe that we will deliver a very cool competitive level, which is necessary for the Libertadores. We have everything to do well in the competition.
Mengão will debut in Conmebol Libertadores next week, on 4/03, against the local team: Defensor-URU, at 6pm. The second round of group C will be against Aucas-EQU, at 3pm, on 7/03, and Flamengo closes the group stage on 10/03, against Sporting Cristal-PER, at 3pm. All games will be at the Domingo Brugueño stadium, in Maldonado.
The new coach of Mais Querido also spoke about the match against Atlético-MG, which will be played this Monday (14), in the Brasileirão under-20
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The Garotos do Ninho return to the field this Monday (14), in a clash against Atlético-MG. Hours before the match, Flamengo presented the team's new coach , Bruno Pivetti, who arrives to replace Nuno Campos.
Thus, in addition to thinking about Atlético-MG, Bruno Pivetti is also already looking ahead to the game against Bayer Leverkusen. The match against Flamengo will be next Friday (18) and will serve as a pre-season friendly for the German team. Thus, the coach spoke about the match.
Bruno Pivetti talks about the importance of the friendly against Bayer: "We will prepare the team in the best possible way for the match against Bayer Leverkusen."
He continued: "A very important match (against Atlético-MG) that means we're in the top two. It's a very important dynamic for the players' development to face a top-level team in the European market. We're preparing well. After today's game, we'll recover the players as best we can, but also develop tactical content so we can play our best against Bayer Leverkusen and the players can make the most of the opportunity," he said.
Bruno also praised Flamengo's structure and highlighted the importance of having good conditions to provide athletes with all the tools they need to perform well on the field.
"It's a structure that offers everything. The demands will be extremely high on the players. We're here to develop them, but I also believe in a winning mentality. It's the club with the biggest fan base in the world. We have to demand the most. It's important that we offer all the conditions. Today, we have excellent fields, materials, everything we need to do a great job ," he adds.
Flamengo takes to the field on Monday night (14), at 8 pm, in a clash against Atlético-MG , at the Luso-Brasileiro stadium. The game will be valid for the 18th round of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship and will be broadcast live on SporTV.
A standout among Mengão's under-20 players, the Nigerian may be living his last days with the Sacred Mantle and heading to Serie B.
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With the opening of the transfer window this Thursday (10), Flamengo is moving both in the main squad and in the base. One of the names that entered the market radar was the Nigerian striker Shola, a highlight of the red-black under-20. Volta Redonda, second-to-last in Series B, sent a loan proposal for the player, but Mais Querido refused .
Despite recognizing that experience on a professional team could be valuable, the board opted to keep the striker. The main reason is the U-20 Club World Cup , in which Flamengo will face Barcelona (ESP) on August 23rd at the Maracanã. Information about Volta Redonda's interest was reported by 'BTS Sports'.
With a distinguished record in the youth ranks—including a World Cup title and two U-20 Libertadores titles—Shola has five appearances for Flamengo 's senior team. Four of these were in 2025, during the Campeonato Carioca , when the team used an alternative formation. His debut came in the 2024 Brasileirão, against Atlético-MG.
If loaned out, Shola would arrive at Volta Redonda with the mission of helping the team escape the relegation zone in Série B. The team has just 14 points in 15 rounds — three wins, five draws, and seven losses — and sits in 19th place, ahead only of Amazonas on goal difference.
With the loan ruled out, at least for now, Shola remains available for the under-20 team. He is expected to start this Thursday (10), at 6 pm (Brasília time), against Botafogo, in the Luso-Brasileiro, in a game valid for the penultimate round of the Brasileirão in the category . The match also marks the debut of coach Bruno Pivetti. Flamengo will have reinforcements from the professional squad: Matheus Gonçalves, Lorran, João Victor, Léo Nannetti and Joshua.
The Ninho player was one of the highlights of Canarinho in the first phase of the Copa 2 de Julho, played in Bahia, and scored a goal this past Saturday (5)
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Called up after standing out in Flamengo's youth teams , young Davi Fraga was one of Brazil's top scorers in the group stage of the Copa 2 de Julho, where Canarinho ended its participation this Saturday (5). In a rout over Dom Macedo-BA, the Ninho player scored.
This was the fifth goal scored by Davi Fraga, a Flamengo product, in four matches in the tournament. Before scoring against Dom Macedo, the youngster scored three against Jacobina-BA and another against Seleção Scout-BOL.
Brazil qualified for the next phase of the Copa 2 de Julho after thrashing Dom Macedo . The Canarinho opened the scoring by Henrique Lemos (Cruzeiro), son of right back Fágner. Also in the first half, Alexsander (Grêmio) increased the score.
However, Brazil only increased the pace in the second half. Right at the beginning of the second half, Davi Fraga shone, in addition to Jean Carlos (Fluminense) and Myguel (Red Bull Bragantino) who also scored their goals. In addition, Dom Macedo scored an own goal.
Brazil had a good campaign in the first phase of the tournament, with 12 points won in four games and the leadership of the group secured. Thus, Canarinho will return to the field only on Tuesday (8), for the round of 16 of the Copa 2 de Julho. The opponent will still be announced by the competition's organizers.