Flamengo is going through a delicate moment in the season and has 3 games without a win

The transfer market in Brazilian football is always busy, especially with the emphasis given to the clubs' young promises. Recently, Vitória, a traditional Bahian club, was the protagonist of a negotiation that resulted in the loss of one of its young promises to one of the biggest clubs in the country, Flamengo. This is left-back Ainoã, 18 years old, who left the Bahian club after failing to reach an agreement to renew his contract, migrating to Flamengo in a negotiation that drew attention both for its details and for the circumstances that involved her.

Ainoã, left-back from the youth teams of Vitória, was seen as one of the players with great potential within the club. However, the young athlete had a contract with Vitória until March 2024, and negotiations for a renewal did not progress as expected. According to information initially released by the Arena Rubro-Negra website and later confirmed by ge, negotiations between Vitória's board of directors and the player did not reach a consensus. Faced with this situation, the Bahian club chose not to insist on renewal and agreed to release the player to Flamengo in advance, guaranteeing in exchange the maintenance of 30% of Ainoã's economic rights.

This strategic decision allowed Vitória to preserve part of the rights to the athlete, which could yield a financial return in a possible future sale by Flamengo. Although the departure of a young promise is never easy, this was a way for the Bahian club to minimize losses and still ensure a return in the event of the player's appreciation in the market.

Ainoã, despite being considered a promise of Vitória's youth categories, has a short trajectory in professional football. The left-back made his debut for the main team at the beginning of 2023, during a match in the last round of the Copa do Nordeste, against Campinense. On that occasion, Vitória was defeated and Ainoã entered the field until the 34th minute of the second half, when he was substituted. This was his only appearance for the professional team, which raises questions about why Flamengo, a large club, decided to invest in the player.

What Flamengo is preparing for a decisive week, with two important clashes in a row. The main focus is on next Thursday's game (26), against Peñarol, in the Libertadores quarter-finals. However, before this crucial match in Uruguay, Rubro-Negro has an immediate challenge: face Grêmio this Sunday (22), in Porto Alegre, in the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship.

Flamengo comes from two negative results in the Brasileirão: a 1-1 draw against Vasco and a 2-1 defeat against Corinthians. These stumbles interrupted the team's positive moment in the competition and generated concerns among fans. Therefore, beating Grêmio this Sunday is an opportunity to break this bad streak and regain confidence in the national championship. Maintaining a good position in the Brasileirão is essential for Flamengo, who need to show consistency in the two competitions they compete in.

A victory over Grêmio would not only be important for the Brasileirão table, but also for the squad's morale before the match against Peñarol. The players' confidence can be boosted with a good result in Porto Alegre, which would help the team arrive motivated for the clash in Montevideo. The Libertadores is a priority for Flamengo this season, and any psychological advantage that can be gained before a decisive duel like this is welcome. Winning away from home against a strong opponent like Grêmio can serve as a boost of morale for the players and coach Tite.

As part of the preparation for the Libertadores, Flamengo must face Grêmio with an alternative team. The starters are being rested and are training in Rio de Janeiro for the game against Peñarol. This decision gives Tite the opportunity to test players who have received fewer minutes on the field and observe who can stand out. The match in Porto Alegre will serve as a test for these athletes, who could end up gaining space in the main squad. If any of the reserves have a convincing performance against Grêmio, Tite may consider using them in the decisive game of the Libertadores, expanding his tactical options.

On Sunday night (22), Flamengo faces Grêmio, in the 27th round of the Brasileirão. Mais Querido has not been performing well in the competition, as it comes from a defeat and a draw. In this way, Tite will try to make the team perform as expected to leave with three points from Porto Alegre.

For the confrontation, coach Tite decided to preserve 12 players. They are: Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro, Erick Pulgar, Léo Ortiz, De la Cruz, Arrascaeta, Plata, Gerson and Bruno Henrique. Thus, the coach will send a reserve team.

Coach: Tite

Matheus Cunha, Wesley, David Luiz, Cleiton and Ayrton Lucas; Allan, Evertton Araújo, Matheus Gonçalves, Alcaraz, Lorran and Carlinhos.

Mais Querido is trying to climb some places on the leaderboard. This is because Rubro-Negro is stuck in fourth place, with only 45 points won. Grêmio seeks to distance itself from the relegation zone. The team from Rio Grande do Sul occupies 14th place, with 28 points. The match will be broadcast live on SporTV and Premiere.