Soccer
10 Nov 2024 | 09:54 |
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The day has arrived winning another title for Flamengoin 2024. Rio de Janeiro champion, the The club did not advance in the Libertadores and is far from fighting for the title in the Brasileirão, but reaches the second leg of the Copa do Brasil final with a 3-1 advantage over Atlético-MG< /b>. The decision takes place this Sunday (10).
Flamengo could be the first champion of Arena MRV
Since the inauguration of Arena MRV in April 2023, Atlético-MG has yet to lift a trophy in its new stadium. Thus, if Flamengo confirms the title, it will be the first club to lift a cup at the venue, reinforcing his presence on the rival stage. In the last meeting between the teams at the arena, the stadium was taken over by the colors of Mais Querido after an authoritative 4-2 red-black victory, complete with fireworks that lit up the athletic house.
Atlético-MG and the unlikely mission
To reverse the disadvantage, Atlético-MG will need a victory by three or more goals difference, a rare feat against Flamengo. In 2024, Rubro-Negro only suffered one defeatwith that margin, a 4-1 to Botafogo in Engenhão. Throughout the season, Atlético achieved the necessary score in just eight games, the majority of which were against lesser opponents or in situations very different from the current one.
Skepticism among athletes
Atlético-MG's difficulty in overcoming Flamengo was evidentin the statements made by its representatives. President Sérgio Coelho commented on the challenges in the decision, and player Alan Kardec had already admitted his discomfort with the situation after the defeat in the first game at Maracanã.
“On Sunday we will have a very difficult game, we know that, but we also know the strength of Atlético fans, the strength of our Arena MRV and the strength, mainly, of our cast and technical committee. We have a team and technical committee so that we can change this story on Sunday. We know it is very difficult. We have a lot of respect for our opponent, who also has a great team”, declared the president of Galo.
“We all believe. I was fortunate enough to keep us in contention. Not that we weren't, but conceding three goals in a final is an uncomfortable situation. But we know that the decision is completely open. It’s about staying focused during the week and focusing on our step by step”, said Alan Kardec.
Controversial arbitration
The choice of arbitration by the CBF generated controversy, with Raphael Claus being chosen as main referee. In the VAR, there will be Daiane Munzi, who has already been involved in decisions unfavorable to Flamengo in matches against Athletico-PR and Cruzeiro, generating apprehension among the Red and Blacks for the decisive duel.
The midfielder, who was raised at Mengão, was loaned to Cruzmaltino by Crystal Palace and avoided talking about his former club during a press conference.
02 Set 2025 | 20:00 |
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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"
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.
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.
Tricolor is already thinking about strengthening the squad for next season and has a Mengão player as the main target for the club's presidential candidate.
02 Set 2025 | 19:00 |
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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.
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.
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.
Mengão beat Internacional in the Brazilian final that year, but the court granted Sport the chance to consider themselves champions.
02 Set 2025 | 18:30 |
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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.
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.
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.
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