FLAMENGO DRASTICALLY REDUCES ITS DEBT IN A DECADE

Even amid negotiations for a possible transfer to Cruzeiro, midfielder Matheus Gonçalves was named by Flamengo for this Monday's game (14) against Atlético-MG, valid for the 18th and penultimate round of the first phase of the 2025 Brazilian Under-20 Championship. The match will be played at 8 pm (Brasília time).

The decision to keep the player at coach Bruno Pivetti's disposal came from the athlete himself, who expressed his desire to continue playing and gaining rhythm for the Rubro-Negro youth team while the situation is not resolved.

CRUZEIRO REMAINS INTERESTED

Behind the scenes, Cruzeiro remains interested in signing Matheus Gonçalves and had already reached an agreement in principle with Flamengo. The athlete's staff expressed openness to the deal, and the mood at Toca da Raposa was optimistic about a quick conclusion. However, disagreements over payment terms stalled the negotiations.

With the impasse, the club's board is awaiting an official statement from Flamengo to determine the next steps in its attempt to strengthen the squad for the remainder of the season. Cruzeiro's offer is around R$22 million for 50% of the player.

FLAMENGO HAS DEFINED LINEUP

Coach Bruno Pivetti should field the following formation for the match against Atlético-MG: Lucas Furtado; Gusttavo, Iago, João Victor and Ítalo; João Alves, Fabiano and Joshua; Matheus Gonçalves, Lorran and Pedro Leão.

Despite boasting a solid defense, Flamengo remains attentive to the market for a new center-back. The move is still being treated cautiously, but there's an ongoing internal debate within the football department. The club believes its defense is well-served, but strategic considerations are keeping the matter alive behind the scenes.

NEW NAMES MAY ARRIVE

Coach Filipe Luís currently has three established defenders: Léo Pereira, Léo Ortiz, and Danilo. The competition between them has been healthy and contributes to the squad's competitive level. Internally, there's recognition that the team's current defensive consistency is one of its strengths in 2025.

In addition to the starters, the squad has two more players for the position: João Victor and Cleiton . Both trained in the club's youth academy, the youngsters are still seeking professional recognition. Cleiton , in fact, has an indefinite contract. His contract with the club expires at the end of the season and has not yet been renewed.

FLAMENGO OPENS UP ABOUT DEFENSIVE PART

The boardroom discussion revolves around a potential future shortage. An injury, suspension, or negotiation could leave the team vulnerable. Therefore, the idea is to anticipate the situation. Even without urgency, the signing of a defender may be a precautionary measure, should the club find someone who meets the technical and financial criteria.

One factor weighing on the analysis is the lack of left-handed defenders on the roster. Only Léo Pereira and Cleiton naturally play on the left, while the others prefer to play on the right. The ideal, according to an internal assessment, would be to find a left-handed defender to maintain balance in the defense. Flamengo's policy is to maintain a competitive squad without excessively increasing spending.

Flamengo striker Pedro spoke publicly for the first time this Monday (14) after the recent developments behind the scenes at the club. Through an official note published on social media, the number 9 spoke about the emotional impact caused by the information that he had been put up for sale by a member of the football department, in addition to having been harshly criticized by Filipe Luís, the current coach of the red-black team.

In the post, Pedro revealed that he felt exposed and undervalued. "I built my career at Flamengo with a lot of struggle and dedication. I expected more respect," he wrote. The player admitted that the incident negatively impacted his performance during training, resulting in his absence from the team's most recent match.

PEDRO CONSIDERS FILIPE LUÍS' PUBLIC CRITICISM TO BE ABOVE THE TONE

During the meeting, Pedro also commented on Filipe Luís 's public statements. The player said he understood his exclusion from the last game, but called the coach's criticism— which he called "regrettable and ridiculous"—excessive. The number 9 expressed discomfort with the tone of his remarks and emphasized that his self-criticism had already been voiced behind the scenes.

THE STRIKER HAS RETURNED TO TRAINING HARD AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE

Out of the last match, Pedro trained intensely on Saturday morning (13), at Ninho do Urubu. According to internal information, the striker's performance was considered "strong", with metrics superior to those of previous days. The player was also present at Maracanã in the afternoon, quickly passed through the locker room and left the stadium before Filipe Luís's press conference.

CHECK OUT PEDRO'S NOTE