Soccer

Flamengo x Botafogo exposes the need for reinforcements for Filipe Luís

Mengão has been suffering from injuries and the coach found himself without midfield players for substitutions, forcing him to improvise

Filipe Luís found himself without alternatives on the Flamengo bench for substitutions against Botafogo and exposes the need for reinforcements - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo
Filipe Luís found himself without alternatives on the Flamengo bench for substitutions against Botafogo and exposes the need for reinforcements - Photo: Reproduction/Flamengo

19 Mai 2025 | 12:21 |

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The calendar is still in its early stages — with less than ten rounds played in the Brazilian Championship and the initial stages of the Libertadores and Copa do Brasil underway —, but Flamengo is already feeling the impact of the marathon of games. The decision to rest Arrascaeta due to physical fatigue in the classic against Botafogo , last Sunday (18), raised the alarm about the need for reinforcements to maintain performance throughout the season.


ABSENCE OF A SHIRT 10


Currently, the red-black squad does not have an immediate replacement for Arrascaeta , and the signing of a number 10 is considered an absolute priority in the next window. Lorran , who was removed by Filipe Luís and reinstated to the under-20s , was included again due to the absences in the sector. In addition to the Uruguayan, Flamengo did not have Gerson (suspended) and midfielders Allan and Pulgar (injured) in the classic.


ADJUSTED TACTICS WITHOUT THE URUGUAYAN

Without Arrascaeta, Filipe Luís had to adapt the team's structure. Against Botafogo, he lined up the team with four forwards , moving Luiz Araújo to the middle, in an attempt to make up for the lack of creativity. In the second half, Matheus Gonçalves was called upon to give more momentum to the offensive build-up, but the alternatives had no effect and Flamengo produced little in the match.


JORGINHO SHOULD BE THE FIRST REINFORCEMENT

Among the names being forwarded, Jorginho , ex-Arsenal , is expected in the first week of June . Although he was not initially among the priorities, the midfielder arrives to reinforce a position weakened by injuries. The injuries to Allan and Pulgar are considered minor, but De La Cruz is a concern : the midfielder suffered a sprain in his left knee and will undergo tests on Monday.

PLANNING FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER

Flamengo is expected to bring in at least four new players in the upcoming transfer windows. However, the tendency is that only Jorginho will be available to play in the Club World Cup . The arrival of new players will also depend on possible departures from July onwards. Internally, the club recognizes the quality of the current squad , but understands that specific signings are necessary to maintain a high level of competitiveness and ensure effective rotation amid a demanding calendar.


Soccer

Injured, Alex Sandro already knows when he will be able to return to Flamengo

Out since Mais Querido's rout of Vitória, the full-back underwent treatment on his calf and should reinforce Mengão in the knockout round debut.

Alex Sandro is expected to reinforce Flamengo against Estudiantes in the Libertadores after a muscle injury - photo: reproduction
Alex Sandro is expected to reinforce Flamengo against Estudiantes in the Libertadores after a muscle injury - photo: reproduction

05 Set 2025 | 23:21 |

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Left-back Alex Sandro is expected to return to action on September 18, when Flamengo faces Estudiantes, from Argentina, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa Libertadores, at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time).


According to information from SBT Rio journalist Venê Casagrande, the player is being prepared by the medical department to be available for Filipe Luís. Besides him, the coach also has Ayrton Lucas and Matías Viña as options for the position.


DETAILS OF THE INJURY SUFFERED


In Flamengo 's 8-0 rout of Vitória, Alex Sandro had to be substituted in the 24th minute of the first half after experiencing pain in his left calf . Uruguayan Viña came on in his place and completed the match.

In an official statement, the club explained the situation: " Athlete Alex Sandro, substituted in the first half of the match against Vitória, underwent an MRI scan . The results revealed a muscle injury in his left calf. The player has already begun treatment under the supervision of Flamengo's medical department," the team reported.


INJURY ALSO PREVENTED CALL-UP

The severity of the injury also forced Alex Sandro out of Carlo Ancelotti's squad for the Brazilian national team. In the full-back's absence, Brazil defeated Chile 3-0 and now prepares to face Bolivia at altitude in the next round.


Soccer

Missing Flamengo? Zenit defender updates Gerson's situation in Russia

After the Russian team paid the 25 million euro release clause, the midfielder left Mais Querido and has already played six games for the Russian club.

Gerson leaves Flamengo for Zenit after paying the release clause, with Douglas Santos ensuring a quick adaptation and happiness at the Russian club - photo: reproduction
Gerson leaves Flamengo for Zenit after paying the release clause, with Douglas Santos ensuring a quick adaptation and happiness at the Russian club - photo: reproduction

05 Set 2025 | 23:12 |

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Flamengo officially announced Gerson 's departure on July 4, 2025, after Zenit of Russia paid the player's release clause . Since then, some Flamengo fans have questioned whether the midfielder was satisfied with the move. Teammate Douglas Santos, full-back at the Russian club, assured that the "Joker" is happy with the new phase of his career.


" Zenit is a great club that welcomes foreign players very well. I've been there for six years, and they've been improving this every year. They're even learning Portuguese to welcome Brazilians. Gerson was definitely welcomed and is happy ," said Douglas Santos in an interview in the mixed zone.


Introduced shortly after the FIFA Club World Cup, Gerson has already played six matches wearing the number 9 jersey for Zenit. So far, he has yet to score or provide any assists. The midfielder has started four matches, totaling 341 minutes on the pitch.


GERSON'S VICTORIOUS TRAJECTORY

Before his transfer, Gerson had spent more than two years in his second stint at Gávea. In total, he played 253 matches, scoring 19 goals and providing 34 assists. During his time there, he won major titles: a Libertadores, two Brazilian Championships, a Copa do Brasil, four Cariocas, three Brazilian Super Cups, and a Recopa Sudamericana.


AMOUNT OF TERMINATION FINE

Gerson 's departure was for a fee of €25 million (approximately R$160 million). The sum represented one of the largest transfers Mengão has received in recent years, but it didn't lessen the weight of the departure of one of the team's technical leaders.


Soccer

Flamengo's U-20 World Cup hero goalkeeper receives praise from Taffarel in the National Team

Carlo Ancelotti called up the 18-year-old for the national team's training sessions in Teresópolis and the Mengão goalkeeper was praised by the world champion goalkeeper

Léo Nanneti, Flamengo's 18-year-old goalkeeper, was praised by Taffarel during the Brazilian National Team's training session in Teresópolis - photo: reproduction
Léo Nanneti, Flamengo's 18-year-old goalkeeper, was praised by Taffarel during the Brazilian National Team's training session in Teresópolis - photo: reproduction

05 Set 2025 | 19:02 |

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Coach Carlo Ancelotti has selected five athletes from the youth ranks of Rio de Janeiro clubs to participate in the Brazilian national team's training session in Teresópolis. Among those selected is Léo Nanneti, Flamengo's goalkeeper, who shone in the Under-20 Intercontinental Cup victory over Barcelona.


During a press conference, four-time world champion and current goalkeeping coach for the Brazilian national team, Taffarel , made a point of joking and praising the young Flamengo player. " I didn't like him. I didn't like him because in the first training session he asked me to put gloves on him (laughs) ," he said before concluding.


" You know those gloves that are really tight? You can put one on and you can't put the other on. He said, 'Professor, can you put the glove on with me?' I said, 'Get out of here now' (laughs). I'm a coach, I'm not a glove fitter," he said in a relaxed tone.


ADMIRATION OF TAFAREL BY YOUNG MAN

Tafarel then revealed his admiration for the youngster: " He's a really cool kid. I didn't even realize he was the goalkeeper in that final (of the U-20 World Cup). I was really happy he came here with us; he has great potential. I liked him, especially because he's an 18-year-old kid, but he already has a real professional attitude. I'm sure he'll bring a lot of joy to Flamengo," he concluded.


RED-BLACK PROMISE

Léo Nanneti, who came through Flamengo 's youth ranks since the U-9s, is considered one of the club's brightest prospects. A key player in the U-20 World Cup final, the goalkeeper saved two penalty kicks against Barcelona , securing the title for Mengão.


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