Already qualified and leader of its group, Flamengo plays better, but ends up tied with LAFC

To cap off a busy transfer window led by José Boto, Flamengo is still dreaming of the return of Lucas Paquetá. A product of the club's youth academy, the player has a strong connection with the club, which is seeking to emotionally connect him with a potential return to Rio de Janeiro.

However, the path to this goal isn't straightforward. Lucas Paquetá remains highly valued in European football, and his name was recently linked with a potential trade deal involving Jack Grealish , which would see the Brazilian join Pep Guardiola's Manchester City squad. The deal, while uncertain, demonstrates how highly regarded the player remains on the Old Continent.

HALF WAS CLEARED OF CHARGES

On Monday (4), new information emerged about Paquetá's position . According to international media outlets, the player, recently cleared of charges of involvement in sports betting manipulation, is determined to prioritize staying in Europe.

Lucas Paquetá is currently linked to West Ham , where he plays regularly. Despite interest from several clubs around the world, the English team is cautious and is only willing to sell him if a minimum offer of €60 million is reached, which is equivalent to approximately R$382.1 million at the current exchange rate.

FLAMENGO SEES PAQUETÁ AS A DREAM

The athlete's stance represents a disappointment for Flamengo 's plans, which saw Paquetá as the perfect signing to round out the squad led by Filipe Luís. Despite this, the Rio de Janeiro club continues to monitor the situation and maintains hopes , albeit remote, of facilitating the 27-year-old's return to Brazilian football.

Flamengo officially announced last Saturday (02) the signing of Colombian midfielder Jorge Carrascal, 26, as reinforcement for the rest of the season. He is the fourth name to arrive at the club in this transfer window. After undergoing medical examinations and signing a four-year contract , the player was presented this Monday (04), in a press conference at Ninho do Urubu, where he wore the number 15 shirt for the first time.

To sign the player, the club invested 12 million euros (approximately R$77.1 million) in a deal involving Dynamo Moscow and Atlético-MG . The delay in releasing the documents was due precisely to the fact that it was a triangular transaction, which also included the sale of Galo player Rubens.

FOLLOW LIVE

PLAYER ALREADY TRAINS WITH THE SQUAD

Although he's already training with the group and is physically fit to play, Carrascal still needs to be registered with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). The midfielder's name must be included in the Daily Information Bulletin (BID) for him to officially debut for the Mais Querido.

The coaching staff, led by Filipe Luís, is evaluating the best time to use the new reinforcement. Internally, there is optimism that the Colombian will be fit for next Saturday's (09) game against Mirassol, for the Brazilian Championship. If the documentation is up to date, Carrascal will be able to play alongside Arrascaeta, expanding Flamengo 's attacking possibilities.

Vinicius Júnior, a forward who rose through the ranks at Flamengo , is now one of the biggest names in world football. He has won every major title with Real Madrid and was named FIFA's best player in the world. His performance and maturity place him among the greatest athletes of our time , earning him admiration even from those who doubted his potential early in his career.

With the arrival of Xabi Alonso to replace Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid is undergoing a period of transition. The new coach's playing style is different from his predecessor's, and there is uncertainty about Vinicius Jr.'s place in the formation. It is speculated that Alonso will prioritize Kylian Mbappé , the French star who recently arrived at the club.

Another factor fueling speculation is the fact that the number 7 has not yet renewed his contract with Los Merengues . Given this, reports are emerging that the player may consider a move to another club where he can remain a key player.

MANCHESTER UNITED PLANS INVESTMENT

According to information released by the Spanish website Fichajes, Manchester United is willing to invest heavily to sign the striker. The Red Devils' offer is around R$1.3 billion , a figure that demonstrates the scale of the English club's commitment to strengthening its squad.

FIFTH MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

Real Madrid striker Vinícius Jr. is no longer among the three most valuable players in world football . According to a study released this Thursday (24) by the Football Benchmark Group, the Brazilian is in 5th place, valued at 171.5 million euros (around R$ 1.11 billion).