Flamengo intensifies preparations for clash with Juventude

A regular starter for Flamengo in 2019, Willian Arão returned to Brazilian football in July 2025 to play for Santos. However, his time at Vila Belmiro may be nearing its end : the 33-year-old midfielder has only played seven minutes on the pitch and the club is already considering terminating his contract.

Arão's only appearance for Peixe came against Flamengo, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 victory, with Neymar scoring at Vila Belmiro. Since then, he has struggled with physical problems and has had to make repeated visits to the medical department , without playing any regular games.

According to journalist Lucas Musetti, the so-called "Arão case" has become a mystery behind the scenes. The player showed up with calf pain and, even though no injuries were detected in the tests , continues to complain of discomfort that prevents him from training and playing.

WILL ARÃO PLAY AGAINST ATLÉTICO-MG?

Santos faces Atlético-MG this Sunday (14), in Belo Horizonte, but Arão is already vetoed. The expectation was that he would train this Thursday (11), which did not happen . Now, the technical committee is working to have him available only next week. Meanwhile, the discussion about the possible termination of the contract grows.

'COLD WAR' BEHIND THE SCENES

According to Musetti, the situation is generating internal friction. The player believes he's being misjudged , while the medical department assures him there's no injury. Furthermore, Arão's decision to hire a private physiotherapist has caused unease within the club.

Flamengo focuses its attention on the clash with Juventude , this Sunday (14), for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. However, Filipe Luís' team is also starting to prepare for the next big challenge of the season : the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals, against Estudiantes (ARG).

STUDENTS HAVE CONFIRMED SHORTAGES

The Argentine team will be without right-back Eric Meza, one of the team's standout players . The player suffered a muscle injury in the adductor of his thigh and will continue to recover, being out of Thursday's match (18), at Maracanã.

FLAMENGO SITUATION

For the red-and-black team, midfielder Erick Pulgar is a certain absence. The Chilean is still recovering from a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot . Jorginho, Alex Sandro, and Varela are also doubtful for Filipe Luís, as they remain under treatment in the medical department.

DATES OF MATCHES AGAINST ESTUDIANTES

• Departure: September 18 (Thursday), at 9:30 pm, at Maracanã.
• Return: September 25, at Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium, in Argentina.

Whoever advances from this clash will face the winner of the duel between Racing (ARG) and Vélez Sarsfield (ARG).

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

Before the Libertadores, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brasileirão this Sunday (14) . The match will be against Juventude, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at Alfredo Jaconi Stadium, for the 23rd round of the competition. The Mais Querido is the leader of the competition with 47 points, three more than the second-placed team, Cruzeiro.

Bolivia's all-time leading scorer and national idol, Marcelo Moreno, formerly of Flamengo, revealed he is considering coming out of retirement . The striker explained that Bolivia's qualification for the playoffs has rekindled his desire to wear the country's jersey once again.

Despite surpassing 100 caps for the national team, Marcelo Moreno has never played in a World Cup. Bolivia only participated in the tournament in 1930, 1950, and 1994 —when the center forward hadn't even begun his professional career in 2006.

Marcelo Moreno, ex-Flamengo, on returning to the World Cup: "Let's see what happens next"

With the team finishing sixth in the qualifiers, the striker had already expressed a desire to return if a World Cup berth became a reality. Now, he's considering the possibility of representing the country in the playoffs.

"I'm enjoying it to the fullest, I can't believe it. I needed to retire, I needed a break from my career . Today, with this happiness that the boys on the national team are giving us, it motivates us to do so many things... We'll see what happens next," he said in an interview with GE.

Marcelo Moreno officially retired in 2023, playing for Independiente del Valle (EQU). The following year, he played a farewell match for Cruzeiro, the club where he became an idol: " God willing and allowing, so be it . I feel good about returning. We'll see what happens. I'm making the most of it, and we'll analyze it carefully. That's the best answer I can give right now," the striker added.

NUMBERS FOR THE BOLIVIA NATIONAL TEAM

• 108 games played
• 31 goals scored (highest scorer in the country's history)
• Debut in 2007 , in a friendly against Peru
• He played in four Copa Américas (2007, 2015, 2019 and 2021)

TRAJECTORY IN CLUBS

Trained in the youth ranks of Oriente Petrolero (BOL) and Vitória, Marcelo Moreno built an international career, playing for Cruzeiro, Shakhtar Donetsk, Werder Bremen, Wigan, Grêmio, Flamengo , Changchun Yatai, Wuhan Zall, Shijiazhuang Ever Bright, Cerro Porteño and Independiente del Valle.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

Marcelo Moreno arrived at Flamengo in 2013, a year when the club was in a period of cost-cutting under Eduardo Bandeira de Mello. Signed on loan from Grêmio, he played just 20 games, scoring four goals and assisting one . In 2014, he returned to Cruzeiro, before beginning his career in Chinese football.