ATLÉTICO-MG PLAYER MARKS AND HONORS VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR AT LIBERTADORES

Flamengo U-20 experienced a magical night at Estádio da Gávea. In an international friendly match held on Friday (18), the red-black team not only won, but also crushed Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 5-1.

A THROW IN HISTORY

The match, besides marking coach Erik ten Hag's debut for the Germans, also represented an affirmation of the strength of the Rio de Janeiro club's youth academy. To crown the evening, the Christ the Redeemer statue was lit up in red and black in a special tribute.

The friendly match between Flamengo U-20 and Bayer Leverkusen took place in a historic setting . To host the match, Flamengo's management set up temporary stands in Gávea.

BAYERN GETS THE WORST

Despite the high expectations surrounding the debut of Erik ten Hag , formerly of Ajax and Manchester United, it was the young talents from the club's youth academy who shone. Bayer Leverkusen's only goal was scored by Montrell Culbreath late in the match.

Flamengo's U-20 victory had significant repercussions in countries like Germany, England, and the Netherlands. Many European fans expressed surprise at the thrashing of Leverkusen, which has gained notoriety on the European stage in recent years.

Flamengo striker Joshua is one of the most promising players in the club's youth academy. At 18, the attacking midfielder is known for his tactical intelligence, agility, and the way he feels at home at Gávea. Having played since the U-11s, he is considered one of the club's biggest prospects for the coming years.

Joshua on his career at Flamengo: "When I come here, I feel at home. It's like I'm playing on the street."

In an international friendly match held at the José Bastos Padilha Stadium in Gávea, Flamengo U-20 faced Bayer Leverkusen and won 5-1. Joshua started and helped the team to a 4-0 lead in the first half.

A VERY IMPORTANT NAME

With the score practically decided, the athlete was rested in the final stage. The solid performance drew attention not only to the large scoreline, but also to the resourcefulness of the young Flamengo players, especially Joshua Flamengo, who actively participated in the offensive playmaking.

JOSHUA HAS A DECISIVE ROLE

Joshua has been with Flamengo since the U-11 and U-12 categories. His entire training took place at Ninho do Urubu. His familiarity with the club, the fields, and the environment directly contributes to his strong performance.

Joshua is currently enjoying the best phase of his career. Playing for both the U-20 team and the professional squad, the youngster has already scored his first goal for the Sacred Mantle and participated in preparations for international tournaments, such as the Youth World Cup.

Pedro's situation at Flamengo has been in the spotlight again in recent days. The number 9 has been sidelined since the match against São Paulo due to a combination of factors: subpar training performance, behavioral issues, and unresolved internal issues.

PROBLEMS SOLVED BY THE COACH

According to coach Filipe Luís, the center forward wasn't as physically fit as the other players and showed little commitment to his activities. The incident triggered a series of developments that put the player's future at the Rio de Janeiro club in doubt.

FILIPE LUÍS WAS VERY INCISIVE

During the press conference following the loss to São Paulo, Filipe Luís was blunt when commenting on Pedro's performance at Flamengo. He said the player had the worst physical performance of any athlete during preparation and described his behavior in training as "regrettable" and "disrespectful."

The firm tone surprised some of the press and fans, as a coach rarely publicly exposes an athlete in such a way. The statement generated significant backlash on social media and behind the scenes at the club.

Two days later, the striker spoke out. In a statement posted on social media, Pedro acknowledged his drop in performance but said he felt disrespected by the way the club and the coach handled the situation.