Flamengo gives a hat to national rival and hits with Paraguay midfielder

A recent highlight of Flamengo's youth academy, Matheus França was officially presented by Vasco this Tuesday (02). During the press conference in São Januário, the attacking midfielder avoided mentioning the name of the club that formed him , Cruzmaltino's biggest rival, and reinforced the total focus on the new team.

Flamengo product Matheus França at his presentation at Vasco: "Everyone knows about my beginnings at the rival club"

MIDFIELDER AVOIDS TALKING ABOUT FLAMENGO

When asked about the pressure from his past at Gávea and the reasons that led him to choose Vasco, França preferred not to delve into the subject , focusing only on the conversations he had with those responsible for Cruzmaltino.

"Everyone knows about my beginnings at the rival club. But the most important thing is to focus here at Vasco, a big and important club. This was my choice, based on conversations with Diniz, Felipe, and Pedrinho . I'm grateful for the support and the conversations from the beginning. I don't feel any pressure. I'm a player who will give his all for Vasco , and that's what matters," he stated.

WHY WAS MATHEUS FRANÇA NOT SUCCESSFUL IN EUROPE?

In July 2023, Crystal Palace signed Matheus França from Flamengo for €20 million (approximately R$104 million at the time), with bonuses that could have increased the fee to €30 million . However, the Gávea native's journey in England was marked by difficulties. The attacking midfielder suffered a series of injuries—to his groin, back, ribs, and thighs—that hampered his adaptation.

He was away from the field for 345 days, returning only in February of this year. During that time, he played 19 games, scoring one goal and providing one assist for the London club . Due to his limited use, Crystal Palace opted to loan him until mid-2026. The contract with Vasco does not include a purchase option.

The transfer windows in Brazil and Europe close this Tuesday (02), but Grêmio still harbors the desire to bring back Everton Cebolinha , currently at Flamengo. Former Grêmio player Luís Mário, who now works as a football agent, revealed that the Rio Grande do Sul club plans to make the red-black number 11 the big signing of the next season. “ Marcelo (Marques)'s dream for next year, Grêmio's big signing, is Everton Cebolinha ,” said Luís Mário.

CAN GRÊMIO HIRE CEBOLINHA IN THIS WINDOW?

With the end of the window this Tuesday (02), the possibility of an immediate agreement is considered unlikely . Grêmio would only have a chance if they could achieve an amicable termination between Cebolinha and Flamengo , which would leave the striker free on the market.

Still, the Rio Grande do Sul club's plans are likely to be postponed until early 2026, when a new transfer window will open. Flamengo , for its part, has not ruled out negotiating the player , provided a profitable opportunity arises.

CEBOLINHA'S SITUATION AT FLAMENGO

Everton Cebolinha is not in the best of times at Flamengo. The striker has lost ground under Filipe Luís and has played in just three of the last ten games , a period in which he scored a goal against Atlético-MG, his last for Flamengo.

In the 2025 season, he played 30 matches, scoring four goals, making 15 starts, and playing a total of 1,174 minutes. The arrival of Samuel Lino further reduced his opportunities , as the number 11 was not in good form.

Formed in the youth ranks of Flamengo , former player Leonardo spoke again about the controversy surrounding the 1987 Brazilian Championship title . For the current sports manager, there is no logic in considering Sport the champion of the edition, and the main person responsible for the confusion was the CBF itself.

Leonardo on Flamengo's 1987 Brasileirão title: "This CBF anomaly is a shame"

"No, no, with all due respect to Sport, but you know what? First, it's a shame that the CBF is so anomaly, that they don't recognize it and then they do [...] But I think at the time, they admitted they couldn't organize the championship . So, they gave Clube dos 13 the opportunity to organize the competition," Leonardo told Charla Podcast.

According to the former full-back, the Green Module brought together the country's main clubs, such as the 12 biggest clubs in Brazilian football , while the Yellow Module functioned as a kind of second division, with the country's most alternative teams.

" The Green Module brings together the country's top 20 clubs. The other, from 20th to 40th . Series A, Series B, man. Two champions emerge. Then they say they have to play a game to recognize the Brazilian title. Honestly, it's a bit of a... So, Flamengo —I don't want to say right or wrong—didn't show up for that game. Inter wouldn't show up either, São Paulo wouldn't show up, because they signed. Then Sport showed up and lost this game that never happened. And the debate continues to this day," he added.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 1987?

That year, lacking the financial means to organize the tournament, the CBF authorized the Clube dos 13 to create the Copa União , contested by the country's 16 most prominent clubs, called the Green Module. However, the confederation later reversed its decision, creating the Yellow Module, and requiring a crossover between the champions of each module.

Flamengo and Internacional, the two best teams in the Green Module, refused to face Sport and Guarani, leaders of the Yellow Module. As a result, the Pernambuco team won by a landslide and was officially recognized by the CBF . Still, for much of the public, Flamengo 's title in the Green Module is seen as the true Brazilian Championship.

WAS LEONARDO ON THE FIELD?

The former full-back was a starter on a star-studded team that included Zico, Renato Gaúcho, Bebeto, and Zinho. For him, the historic significance of the title goes beyond the legal dispute: " I think there should be official recognition and popular recognition . That, if we analyze it, is Zico's last title of the 1980s," Leonardo noted.