
Soccer
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The first step has been taken. In their debut game in the Conmebol Libertadores U20, Flamengo beat Defensor-URU this Monday, 1-0, with a goal from striker Wallace Yan. The match, valid for group C, was held at the Domingo Burgueño stadium, in the Uruguayan city of Maldonado. In the other clash in the group, Aucas-EQU defeated Sporting Cristal-PER, by the score of 3 to 1.
And the opponent of Garotos do Ninho in the next round will be the Ecuadorian team, next Thursday (7), at 3 pm (Brasília time), in Maldonado. It is worth noting that the leader of each group and the best runner-up qualify for the semi-finals.
THE LIBERTADORES DUEL
Very technically applied, the team led by coach Mário Jorge started the match with a thirst for victory. And after just 8 minutes, he deservedly scored his goal. Well-crafted play by Nigerian Shola on the left side. The striker crossed to Wallace Yan's accurate header: 1 to 0 Mengão.
At 18, quick counterattack by Garotos do Ninho. Midfielder Caio Garcia found Wallace Yan free on the right. The attacker shot across the ball, low, and almost scored his second in the game.
As a result of an injury to Felipe Brian in the first half, Flamengo returned to the second stage with Victor Silva moving to midfield and Lucyan being moved to right-back.
At 27, Zé Welinton, with a free kick, made the Defensor goalkeeper make a difficult save. Shola, at 33, in a high-speed play from midfield, arrived in the area and touched the goalkeeper. At 39, Caio Garcia had a good opportunity, but stopped at the Uruguayan archer.
Vinição, a Mengo product, stands out after being announced as a reinforcement for the German team; the Rio de Janeiro club will make a huge profit from the deal
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Midfielder Vinícius Souza was transferred from Sheffield United to Wolfsburg for 15 million euros (approximately R$95.8 million) . FIFA rules reserve up to 5% of the transfer fee paid by clubs to reward all clubs that contributed to the development of the athlete between the ages of 12 and 23. In Vinícius' case, Flamengo accumulated 3.05% because he left the club at the age of 21.
This transfer reinforces the sustainable business model of the red-black base, which obtained financial returns even without the sale of the athlete in loco. To give you an idea, a similar mechanism yielded the club around R$11 million in the sale of Lucas Paquetá, for example. The amount of R$3 million will be deposited directly into the club's coffers.
Transfer: 15 million euros (~R$ 95.8 million)
Solidarity percentage: 3.05%
Estimated total for Flamengo: R$3 million
This amount is not exceptional for an individual transfer, but it shows how small amounts can generate consistent resources for the club. When added to other negotiations – especially of athletes revealed at Ninho –, these revenues reinforce the financial viability of the red-black base without depending on immediate sales.
With Kyle Walker leaving for Burnley, Manchester City is considering investing in Cria do Ninho, a full-back from Mais Querido, who is already the target of an offer from an Italian team
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Right-back Kyle Walker's move to newly-promoted Burnley has opened a gap in Manchester City's squad. The 35-year-old defender opted not to stay at the club despite having a contract until 2026 , and ended his career under Pep Guardiola, in which he was a key player in successful campaigns, such as the 2022/23 Treble.
With his departure confirmed, the English club is evaluating alternatives in the market to strengthen the sector , and the name of Wesley, a standout player at Mais Querido, appears as one of the main options. According to the British newspaper The Telegraph, the Citizens are considering formalizing an offer for the young full-back.
Manchester City currently only have Rico Lewis, 20, and Issa Kaboré, 24 , as their right-backs. Neither of them, however, has managed to establish themselves in the starting line-up, which led Guardiola to improvise midfielder Matheus Nunes in the role.
Given this scenario, the hiring of a consolidated full-back becomes urgent. Wesley, 21, has been standing out since Filipe Luís arrived on the coaching staff and is attracting attention from European football due to his speed, marking and offensive projection.
While Manchester City is still evaluating the terms of a possible move, Roma has already made progress in negotiations with a concrete proposal. The Italian club offered around 25 million euros (around R$160 million), including bonuses, through a loan model with an obligation to buy — a common strategy to get around limitations imposed by UEFA's Financial Fair Play.
The 33-year-old midfielder was once in Rubro-Negro's plans, but never reached an agreement with the Rio de Janeiro club and Mengão's biggest rival
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Thiago Mendes is Vasco da Gama's new signing. Free on the market after the end of his contract with Al-Rayyan, from Qatar, the midfielder signed a contract with Cruzmaltino for two and a half seasons. The information was initially released by Venê Casagrande and confirmed by sources linked to the club . Despite not having made a recent offer, Flamengo is well aware of the name.
The midfielder was on the club's agenda on two occasions: 2021 and 2022. On both occasions, negotiations did not progress, either due to Lyon's financial demands at the time or due to a change of direction by the red-black board. Flamengo's first contact with Thiago Mendes took place in 2021.
The board led by Rodolfo Landim explored the possibility of a loan with an option to buy from Lyon. The French club, however, toughened up the negotiations and did not facilitate the release. Without success, Rubro-Negro ended up hiring Andreas Pereira. The following year, the talks resurfaced.
With Thiago Mendes' contract coming to an end, Flamengo's directors believed that it would be possible to move forward for a more affordable price. Lyon once again asked for financial compensation, frustrating the plans . The outcome was the arrival of Arturo Vidal. Now, in 2025, the story has a new chapter without Flamengo's participation.
Thiago Mendes, who is free on the market, was offered to Vasco and quickly approved by Fernando Diniz. The player is expected this Saturday (05) in Rio de Janeiro to sign a contract until the end of 2027. Vasco's move is surprising due to the timing and the player's profile. At 33 years old, the midfielder arrives with the status of a starter and reference, betting on the experience acquired in Europe and Arab football.