Soccer

Flamengo returns after qualifying for the Libertadores and aims to lead the Brasileirão

Rubro-Negro returns to training this Thursday and begins preparation for the duel at Maracanã; the team can take the top of the table if they win and Palmeiras stumble

Even after the victory in the Libertadores, Flamengo returns without a break at CT Ninho do Urubu to prepare for the Brazilian Championship (Flamengo)
Even after the victory in the Libertadores, Flamengo returns without a break at CT Ninho do Urubu to prepare for the Brazilian Championship (Flamengo)

29 Mai 2025 | 14:29 |

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Having qualified, but far from being in a celebratory mood, Flamengo faces the week with redoubled attention. The 1-0 victory over the Venezuelans, on the night of last Wednesday (28), sealed the passage to the knockout stages of the Libertadores, but the calendar does not allow the other clubs to breathe.


With the players arriving home in the early hours of the morning, the return match at Ninho do Urubu was scheduled for the afternoon. Starting at 3:30 p.m., the coaching staff led by Filipe Luís began preparing for the match against Fortaleza on Sunday at Maracanã. The match against the team from Ceará will be the last before leaving for the United States, where Flamengo will compete in the Club World Cup. There, the first matches will be against Espérance from Tunisia and Chelsea from England.


FOCUS ON BRAZILIAN, THEN WORLDWIDE


Until then, the team's full focus is on adding points in the Brasileirão. Flamengo is currently in second place, with 21 points. The leader is Palmeiras, with 22, closely followed by Cruzeiro and Red Bull Bragantino, both with 20. The scenario for the round favors Rubro-Negro. If they beat Fortaleza and Palmeiras stumble against Cruzeiro at Mineirão, Flamengo will retake the lead. Depending on the goal difference, even a draw could put the team in the lead, as long as Verdão loses to the team from Minas Gerais.

BACK TO PREPARATION WITHOUT A BREAK


The training at Ninho do Urubu will be short but intense. In addition to Thursday's activity, Filipe Luís will lead two more training sessions before the game: Friday and Saturday, both in the morning, at 9:30 am. On the other side, Fortaleza is trying to get back on its feet in the championship. The team led by Juan Pablo Vojvoda has yet to get going in the Brasileirão and is in 16th place, with ten points in ten games — a performance of two wins, four draws and four losses.

Despite the team's poor form, recent history shows that the match is always tight. In recent meetings, Fortaleza has made things difficult for Flamengo, including winning notable matches at both Castelão and Maracanã. But the current situation is different. Playing at home, with the support of the fans and excited about qualifying for the Libertadores, Flamengo has all the elements to seek three more points and put direct pressure on the leader.


Soccer

“We know about…” - Ceará midfielder predicts duel against Flamengo

Mengão travels to Fortaleza to face Vozão in an important Brasileirão clash and the player believes in the strength of playing at home.

Ceará midfielder Dieguinho plans a duel against Flamengo in the Brasileirão - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
Ceará midfielder Dieguinho plans a duel against Flamengo in the Brasileirão - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

02 Ago 2025 | 19:00 |

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Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (3), at 6:30 pm, against Ceará , at Arena Castelão, for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship . The duel marks another important commitment for Rubro-Negro in the fight for leadership and is already moving the atmosphere of the Ceará team.


CEARÁ WANTS TO MAKE HOME FIELD VALUE


One of Ceará 's standout players this season, midfielder Dieguinho commented on his expectations for the match and emphasized the importance of playing with the support of the fans . Vozão has the 12th-best home record in the Brasileirão.


Dieguinho, from Ceará: "We know Flamengo's quality"

"We played a great game against Cruzeiro in the last round and got an excellent result. But now we have a very strong opponent ahead of us. We know Flamengo 's quality, but we'll be playing at home, with the support of our fans , and we need to make the most of our home advantage to get another win," he said.


Ceará's leader in tackles and interceptions in Série A, Dieguinho is also one of the players with the most minutes on the field this season. The team is riding high after its victory over Cruzeiro , which also helped Flamengo regain the lead in the Brasileirão.

The Castelão stadium is expected to be packed, as all tickets have been sold in advance. The Ceará club even issued a statement asking Flamengo fans not to purchase tickets in the sections reserved for home fans.

FLAMENGO PREPARES FOR POSSIBLE CHANGES

After the defeat to Atlético-MG in the Copa do Brasil, the red-black squad returned this Friday (1) . The players who did not play as starters participated in activities on the field with coach Filipe Luís.

The team will have just one full training session before the trip to Fortaleza, but changes are expected from the lineup that faced Galo. Jorginho and Arrascaeta are expected to return to midfield , while Samuel Lino is the favorite to start on the left wing after a strong debut.

FLAMENGO'S PROBABLE LINEUP

With key players missing, coach Filipe Luís will need to make changes to his lineup for the match against Ceará. Flamengo is expected to field: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Allan, and Arrascaeta; Luiz Araújo, Samuel Lino, and Bruno Henrique.



Soccer

Former Flamengo player David Luiz makes decision on European proposal

The defender is being targeted by a Cyprus team and could leave Fortaleza less than a year after leaving Mengão and signing with Leão do Pici.

Less than a year after leaving Flamengo, David Luiz signs with a European club and terminates his contract with Fortaleza - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo
Less than a year after leaving Flamengo, David Luiz signs with a European club and terminates his contract with Fortaleza - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo

02 Ago 2025 | 18:00 |

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Fortaleza announced this Friday (1st) the amicable termination of the contract with defender David Luiz , who will now continue his career at Pafos FC , a team in the first division of Cyprus. The defender had signed with the Ceará club at the beginning of 2024, after ending his stint at Flamengo.


EXIT FROM FORTALEZA


His departure comes after just 16 appearances for the Tricolor, 13 of which he started . His last appearance was on June 12th, in a 3-2 loss to Santos in the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship. On that occasion, David Luiz played the full 90 minutes.


His brief time at Fortaleza was marked by recurring physical problems , which, while not serious, prevented him from playing regularly. Even so, the 38-year-old opted to waive the remaining balance of his contract, which ran until the end of 2026, to accept the Cypriot football club's offer. His contract with Pafos FC will last three seasons.

CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS


With his move to Cyprus, David Luiz now has eight clubs in his career: Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, PSG, Arsenal, Flamengo, Fortaleza and, now, Pafos. For Flamengo , the club he defended between 2021 and 2024, the defender played 132 matches , scored four goals and provided two assists. He won the Libertadores (2022), the Copa do Brasil (2022 and 2024) and the Campeonato Carioca (2024).

AND FLAMENGO?

While David Luiz will make his return to European football, Flamengo is preparing for the clash with Ceará in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship . The duel will be this Sunday (3) at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) at Arena Castelão. Mengão needs the victory to remain at the top of the competition without having to worry about its pursuers.


Soccer

Matheus Gonçalves sparks international interest and could leave Flamengo

In addition to CSKA, from Russia, two teams from outside Brazil are also in the race to secure the services of the Mengão midfielder.

Matheus Gonçalves is in the sights of more than one international team besides CSKA - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo
Matheus Gonçalves is in the sights of more than one international team besides CSKA - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo

02 Ago 2025 | 17:45 |

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Matheus Gonçalves' fate is still up in the air. The young Flamengo player is in advanced negotiations with CSKA Moscow in Russia, but two other foreign teams have also expressed interest in signing him .


The information was released by journalist Gabriel Reis, from the Paparazzo Rubro-Negro channel. According to him, an intermediary involved in the negotiations with CSKA confirmed that two other clubs are in the running —one from the United Arab Emirates and another from Europe, but without participation in the continent's major leagues, a profile similar to that of the Russian club.


NEGOTIATIONS STILL IN PROGRESS


So far, no official proposals have been sent to Flamengo by these two competitors, and they may formalize their interest. However, offers are expected to be formalized in the coming days, with values similar to those presented by CSKA .

The main difference lies in the percentages of economic rights. Flamengo is considering whether it prefers to secure a larger sum upfront or a higher percentage in a future sale , which could directly influence the player's future.


HIGHLIGHT AGAINST ATLÉTICO-MG SPARKED INTEREST

Matheus Gonçalves was already being watched by the international market , but his strong performance as a starter against Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 increased the interest of foreign clubs. The youngster's performance increased his chances of being traded this summer.

Despite praise from coach Filipe Luís, the player has received little playing time on the main squad . Therefore, on several occasions, he has requested to play for the U-20 team in search of match fitness. Now, Matheus could be rewarded with a transfer to a team where he has more opportunities to play.


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