
Soccer
Flamengo will have a decisive reinforcement for the game against Botafogo
07 Out 2025 | 12:48
Soccer
10 Jul 2025 | 16:33 |
Flamengo's opponent in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil, Atlético-MG is already looking forward to the duel . After training on Wednesday (10), striker Hulk was asked if the Club World Cup could leave the red-black squad more tired for the rest of the season, but the striker's analysis is that the period in the USA could be an "advantage" for Mais Querido.
Hulk on Flamengo's alleged fatigue: "Here, for example, we're used to playing nine games a month. They played maybe five games? Not even that."
Atlético's captain drew a comparison with the Brazilian calendar, where the intervals between games are shorter and teams travel long distances. He suggests that the reduced schedule could leave the Rubro-Negro with the ideal rhythm for the rest of the season.
"I don't know if they're tired or not. Here, for example, we're used to playing nine games a month. They played maybe five games? Not even that, I don't know. It's not quite like that; they're not tired. (...) If you look at it from the other side, we'll make a more realistic observation. The guys who are used to playing nine games a month, played four? Man, play, those legs are light," said Hulk.
Flamengo played five matches in June, including the victory over Fortaleza and four matches in the Club World Cup. In addition, the squad has an 11-day period for rest and training before the match against São Paulo, on Saturday (12), at Maracanã, which marks the return to the Brasileirão.
When asked about the long break without official matches, Hulk admitted there's uncertainty about the impact of this break, especially in comparison to Flamengo, which competed in the Club World Cup and may be in better form.
"It's a new situation for us. We don't know what it's going to be like. Whether the teams that were in the World Cup will be more in rhythm, or whether the teams that were able to rest will return in better physical condition. We don't know until the games start. We're focused on playing great games; this month will be very important for us. We have Flamengo in the Copa do Brasil."
Flamengo and Atlético-MG face off in the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The first leg will be on July 31st at 9:30 pm at the Maracanã Stadium. The return leg will be at the MRV Arena, the venue for the Flamengo title in 2024, on August 14th, also at 9:30 pm.
After losing 1-0 to Bahia, Mengão is looking to get back to winning ways in the next five rounds of the Brasileirão
07 Out 2025 | 15:49 |
Flamengo suffered a 1-0 loss to Bahia, a result that complicated its position in the Brasileirão standings. In its last five matches, the "Mais Querido" has won only one , drawn three, and now has lost one, highlighting the team's need for an immediate response.
Coach Filipe Luís will have ten days to adjust the team before the next match, scheduled for October 15th against Botafogo. The FIFA break will be crucial, as most of Mengão's key players are not involved in international call-ups and can participate fully in training.
Flamengo reached agreements with the federations to protect its players. The club's medical department sent reports detailing the physical strain caused by the backlog of matches , particularly regarding players who could have been called up by Uruguay.
Therefore, the red-black team returns to the field on October 15th, for the 28th round of the Brasileirão , against Botafogo, at 7:30 pm, at Nilton Santos Stadium. After the loss to Bahia, Flamengo occupies second place in the table with 55 points , tied with Palmeiras, who has the advantage in the number of victories.
The striker is experiencing a period of little participation at Mengão and is awaiting an offer from Al-Duhail to regain prominence in his international career.
07 Out 2025 | 15:08 |
Striker Michael is facing a difficult period at Flamengo and may be close to a change of scenery. Not in coach Filipe Luís's plans, the player is awaiting an offer from Al-Duhail of Qatar, which is expected to resume negotiations in January. His staff believes that playing outside of Brazil is the best path for his career.
Michael hasn't played since June 24, when he came on for 31 minutes against Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup. Despite recovering from ankle pain and training normally , he hasn't even been named on the bench.
In the last transfer window, Mengão included the striker on the list of available players. The only concrete offer came from Al-Ula, offering a one-year loan for $2.5 million with an option to buy at the end, but it was rejected by the Flamengo player himself.
Al-Duhail is interested in signing Michael for the 2026 season, betting he can regain the prominence he had at Al-Hilal before returning to Brazil. The team expects an official offer to be made early next year.
At Mengão, Michael is finding it difficult to play, as Bruno Henrique, Pedro, Plata, and Wallace Yan have been prioritized up front. The coach stated that the selections are purely technical and that the striker maintains good performance in training, but opportunities remain limited.
Mengão's football director details negotiations with Spanish midfielder and time zone challenges to close deal with European club
07 Out 2025 | 14:44 |
Flamengo's football director, José Boto , revealed previously unpublished details about the signing of midfielder Saúl Ñíguez. In an interview with Portuguese newspaper Record , the director said he had to stay up all night to get the player off a private flight from a Turkish club and secure his arrival in Rio de Janeiro.
According to Boto , the negotiations faced an additional complication: the time difference between Brazil and Spain. " When you do business with Europe, you have the time zone issue. In this case, it was a five-hour time difference to Spain, and that forced me, right after a game, to stay up all night to close the deal at almost five in the morning in Brazil," he said.
Even without scoring his first goal for the Red-Blacks, the Spanish midfielder has already established himself as a solid presence in the team. He has played 13 games, the first three as a substitute and the following ten as a starter , earning two cautions and one assist. His performance has helped solidify the central midfield.
Midfielder Saúl Ñíguez was left out of the match against Bahia last Sunday (5), due to pain in his left ankle. Despite the absence, the coaching staff is not afraid that the player will be left out of the team's next match.
With Saúl available, Flamengo returns to action on October 15th, facing Botafogo at 7:30 pm at Nilton Santos Stadium in the 28th round of the competition. The match will be broadcast exclusively on Premiere (a cable channel).