Focus on the Libertadores! Flamengo has no respite after victory over Palmeiras

Taty Castellanos ' agents have again moved to secure a transfer for the Argentine striker from Lazio. A new negotiation attempt is expected to take place in the January 2026 transfer window, a period during which Flamengo remains alert for potential offensive reinforcements.

The player was already on the Rubro-Negro's agenda in July 2025, but the Italian team ruled out any possibility of negotiations at that time. At the time, football director Angelo Fabiani stated that Castellanos "was not for sale," ending negotiations and frustrating the Rio de Janeiro club's interest.

Now, the player's representatives are awaiting a new statement from Lazio to assess whether there will be room for talks. Flamengo , for its part, continues to monitor the situation and sees the Argentine as a candidate capable of increasing internal competitiveness, competing with Pedro for a position.

HIGHLIGHT FOR GIRONA

The striker arrived at the Roman club after a successful stint with Girona , costing €15 million (approximately R$96 million at the time). Since then, he has scored 20 goals and provided 13 assists in 86 official matches, a performance that has also attracted interest from South American teams.

GAME FEATURES

The 25-year-old Argentine is recognized for his mobility and excellent finishing, characteristics that fit the style of play sought by Flamengo . The board is considering strengthening the attacking sector for 2026 , and Castellanos remains one of the options on their radar.

Referee Ramon Abatti Abel was the target of harsh criticism after the 0-0 draw between Flamengo and Cruzeiro , last Thursday (02), for the Brasileirão. In addition to complaints from players and the red-black technical committee during the match, the summary brought a specific episode involving a member of the delegation .

According to the official report, Artur Fernando Gonçalves Munhoz, a masseur who was part of Flamengo's commission and who was not selected for the game, allegedly insulted the refereeing team, led by Ramon Abatti, as they were leaving for half-time :

Ramon Abatti, in the Flamengo vs Cruzeiro match report: "You're afraid to referee, this CBF is shit"

“I inform you that, after the end of the first half, while the refereeing team was passing through the mixed zone towards their locker room, Mr. Artur Fernando Gonçalves Munhoz, belonging to the CR Flamengo team, who was not related to the match, uttered the following words: ' You are afraid to referee, this CBF is shit '”, wrote Ramon in the summary.

REASON FOR COMPLAINTS

Cruzeiro challenged the referee's stance throughout the match. Non-existent fouls were called in Cruzeiro's favor , and yellow cards were handed out early on, leaving players in a rut and increasing the team's frustration.

After the final whistle, defender Léo Ortiz highlighted the inconsistency of the criteria adopted: " It's very annoying to talk about refereeing, I even apologize . But what is bothersome is the change in criteria, which varies greatly from one referee to the next. I think that's the most damaging part. We're very bothered by it."

FLAMENGO'S NEXT CHALLENGE

With no time to regret the draw, Flamengo is already preparing for its next match . On Sunday (05), the team faces Bahia, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Fonte Nova, in Salvador. The duel will be broadcast exclusively by Premiere.

Next Tuesday (7), Flamengo's Deliberative Council will hold a hybrid meeting, in person and virtual, to discuss the legal dispute with Libra . The meeting, scheduled for 6 pm, will have as its main agenda the injunction obtained by Rubro-Negro , which blocked the transfer of R$ 77 million from Globo to the block's clubs regarding the Brasileirão's TV rights.

President Luiz Eduardo Baptista (BAP) will make the official presentation, detailing the reasons for the dispute and the board's next steps. The expectation is that the meeting will clarify the club's arguments in the face of criticism from opposing executives and some in the press.

In a statement, Flamengo confirmed that the board members will be updated on the disagreements with Libra: "The topics related to the Brazilian Football League – 'Libra' will be addressed and updated, especially regarding the controversies existing in its Bylaws regarding the criteria for sharing 'audience' revenue."

ORIGIN OF THE CONFLICT

The controversy began when Libra changed the calculation of its 30% share of audience revenue, approximately R$309 million annually . Under the new model, the total number of viewers for each game was added up and divided equally between the clubs.

Flamengo argues that this change violates the league's bylaws, as any change to the revenue sharing criteria requires unanimous approval . At the August General Assembly, only Flamengo and Volta Redonda voted against the measure.

The Flamengo board also disputes alleged documents signed by Rodolfo Landim, the club's former president, cited by Libra as supporting the change. It was precisely based on this violation of the bylaws that the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice granted the injunction in Flamengo's favor.

NUMBERS SHOW IMPACT FOR FLAMENGO

The financial projections reveal the club's delicate position. Flamengo is the only one to lose resources in all simulated scenarios . In the model approved by the majority, the reduction exceeds R$100 million compared to the amount received in 2024. Even in alternative proposals, such as the one presented by Flamengo itself , the reduction would be close to R$50 million.

Meanwhile, Palmeiras, cited in the debate by president Leila Pereira as a club also giving up value, maintains virtually the same level in all projections . Teams like Bahia, Vitória, and Red Bull Bragantino appear among the most benefited, always due to Flamengo's losses.