INVENCIBILITY MAINTAINED! FLAMENGO'S LAST DEFEAT TO PALMEIRAS AT ALLIANZ PARK WAS SIX YEARS AGO

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.

Santos officially presented, this Friday (5), midfielder Victor Hugo , 21 years old. The athlete, on loan from Flamengo until mid-2026, will wear the number 29 shirt and was received by idol Clodoaldo during the press conference . The “Cria do Ninho” highlighted that Neymar's message was decisive in his decision to play for the São Paulo club.

"They really had other options. From the moment Neymar sends a message, it makes a difference," the midfielder stated. He also revealed his admiration for the star: " Neymar was the one who made me fall in love with football when I was younger . I've always followed him closely. He's an idol to me. That really had an impact."

EXPERIENCE IN Türkiye

The athlete emphasized that his recent stint with Göztepe in Turkey helped improve his defensive performance. However, his desire now is to regain the attacking characteristics that marked his youth development. " In the youth academy, I was always number 10. [...] I have the ability to get forward to score goals. That's something I want to recover, to get forward more, to score more goals, " he projected.

FLAMENGO'S PROMISE

Victor Hugo is considered one of the most promising young players in the Mais Querido youth academy in recent years. Promoted to the main squad in 2022, he participated in the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores victories that year. However, he lost his place under Tite and ended up on loan. Now, at Santos, the youngster hopes to regain prominence and take a new step in his career.

Upon his return, he nearly agreed to a move to Famalicão-POR. The deal fell through, and the player even received a few minutes under Filipe Luís. However, he didn't win over the coaching staff and was underused.

Last Thursday (4), Uruguay beat Peru 3-0 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, securing their place in the next World Cup . Arrascaeta started and scored the second goal of the match, remaining on the field for 69 minutes. With the result, the Celeste Olímpica joins Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay as representatives of South America. Venezuela and Bolivia are already competing for a place in the play-offs.

After the victory, Marcelo Bielsa praised the midfielder's performance and highlighted the Gávea club's role in the athlete's recovery, as he had faced physical problems in recent years. The coach made a point of thanking the club's professionals for their work.

“ Regarding Arrascaeta, I would like to give special recognition to Flamengo's technical and medical staff, who have made Arrascaeta a different player this season, this year, than the one I initially knew ,” said Bielsa.

COACH PRAISES REGULARITY

Bielsa highlighted the player's development, emphasizing his importance to both the national team and the club. " Today, he's a player like I'd heard before. And only this year have I been able to see him in terms of his trajectory , what people say about him, and what he's done for the national team. He's very valuable, but what he does at Flamengo , playing twice a week, scoring goals, providing assists... He's a player who, in this form, is very good," the coach added.

ARRASCAETA'S NUMBERS IN THE SEASON

Enjoying one of the best moments of his career, the Uruguayan has played 42 games for Mengão in 2024, 37 of them as a starter. The midfielder has excelled in goalscoring and consistent performances, solidifying his position as a key player in the team's strategy.