FLAMENGO TARGETS POSSIBLE REINFORCEMENT WITH WORLD CHAMPION GONZALO MONTIEL

Much criticized by fans after the 1-1 draw with Grêmio , last Sunday (31), left-back Ayrton Lucas decided to delete his Instagram account. Since then, it is no longer possible to find the player's profile , who has defended Flamengo since 2022.

PERFORMANCE AGAINST GRÊMIO

Starting in the absence of the injured Alex Sandro, Ayrton Lucas's performance was below expectations. To make matters worse, he was responsible for the play that led to Grêmio's equalizer : the ball hit his hand inside the box in the final minutes, resulting in the penalty kick being converted by the opponent. The incident generated strong dissatisfaction among fans, who were vocal in their criticism on social media. Although the full-back has not commented, his digital disappearance is seen as a reflection of the pressure he has received.

LEFT-BACK OPTIONS

Filipe Luís on the fight for left-back at Flamengo: "It's difficult to choose"

Despite the turbulent times, the team boasts some strong options in the red-and-black squad. In addition to Ayrton Lucas, coach Filipe Luís has Alex Sandro and Matías Viña , both of whom have played for their national teams in World Cups. Alex Sandro, however, has been battling repeated injuries, while Viña recovered from a serious injury in 2024 and returned to action this season.

Thus, the race for the starting spot remains wide open. It remains to be seen whether Filipe Luís's confidence in Ayrton Lucas will prevail or whether Viña will gain more space in the team . In the post-match press conference, the coach indicated a preference for the Brazilian as the second man in the position, behind Alex Sandro.

"He (Ayrton Lucas) didn't start against Vitória because he had a family issue. At the level he's playing, it's difficult to choose. I chose the option I thought was best for the win . All three remain very good options for the coach to choose from and have a high-level full-back," the coach stated.

NEXT GAME

The team returns to action on September 14th, against Juventude, at 4 pm (Brasília time), at the Alfredo Jaconi stadium, in Caxias do Sul, for the 23rd round of the Brasileirão. Flamengo is looking to end a long winless streak at the Jaconero stadium . The last time they won there was on October 1st, 1997, when the score ended 1-0 to "Mais Querido" due to an own goal by Rodrigo Costa.

Flamengo has finalized the sale of Matheus Gonçalves to Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia in a transaction valued at €8 million (approximately R$50 million) . The Arab club made the deal official this weekend, highlighting the arrival of the 20-year-old, who had been playing for the under-20s after losing his place in the first team under Filipe Luís. The player was one of the standout players in the category's Intercontinental Cup victory.

This wasn't Matheus Gonçalves ' first attempt. Before the deal with Al-Ahli, Cruzeiro and CSKA Moscow had formalized offers. The Minas Gerais club had offered €3.5 million (R$22 million) for 50% of the player's rights, in negotiations conducted directly with president Bap, but the club backed out. Shortly after, CSKA presented a higher offer, of €7 million (R$44 million), which was also rejected by the club's board.

MATHUES GONÇALVES WAS UNDERUSED

By early 2025, Matheus was part of the senior squad, but he failed to establish himself amid stiff competition in the attacking department . With just 15 appearances and two goals for the senior team, the midfielder opted to return to the U-20s to get some regular action.

His departure is part of the list of changes defined by the board during this transfer window. In 2025, he made 15 professional appearances, notably scoring three goals in the Campeonato Carioca , when he enjoyed his best moment for the club.

FLAMENGO HAS FIVE EXITS IN THE WINDOW

With the sale confirmed, Flamengo has now lost five players in the current transfer window. In addition to Matheus Gonçalves, who is heading to Saudi Arabia, the club has also negotiated deals with Lorran (on loan to Pisa), Victor Hugo (signed with Santos), Gerson (sold to Zenit), and Wesley (transferred to Roma).

The 1-1 draw between Flamengo and Grêmio, last Sunday (31), for the Brasileirão, marked a special moment for Nicolás De La Cruz. The Uruguayan midfielder returned to the starting lineup after more than three months away and was defined by Filipe Luís as “ one of the pillars of the team ”.

RETURN TO THE TEAM

In the absence of Jorginho, who was sidelined by muscle discomfort, De La Cruz took over the midfield spot and delivered . He played 76 minutes on the field, with two dangerous free kicks, tackles, good recoveries, and quality passes. His performance earned applause from the nearly 70,000 fans in attendance at the Maracanã and reinforced expectations that he could compete for a starting spot.

MEDICAL CONTROVERSY AND INJURIES

Between June and July, the Uruguayan missed seven matches due to inflammation in his left knee. During this period, he became the center of controversy that led to the dismissal of José Luiz Runco , then head of the medical department. In internal messages, the doctor even stated that the athlete suffered from chronic injuries in both knees, casting doubt on his ability to perform at a high level.

GRADUAL REINSERTION

After returning to the squad, De La Cruz played in all subsequent games. He didn't play against Internacional in the Libertadores , but he did play in the historic 8-0 rout of Vitória, playing the final 20 minutes. Coincidentally, it was in that same game that Jorginho complained of pain, making room for the Uruguayan.

STARTING PLAYER

During the preparations for the Grêmio match, De La Cruz received special attention from Flamengo 's coaching staff. Last week's training session gave him the green light to start . His last start was in the derby against Botafogo on May 18th. His return now comes at a time when Filipe Luís appears to have found a solid fit in the midfield with Jorginho and Saúl.