ABSOLUTE LEADER! PEDRO/CEBOLINHA DUO DECIDE AND FLAMENGO BEATS FLUMINENSE AT MARACANÃ

The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.

The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.

During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term. 

Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.

Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.

Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.

In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.

The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement. 

In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.

The attacker Carlinhos should be Flamengo's starter in the classic against Botafogo this Sunday (18), in the 23rd round of the Brazilian Championship. The number 22 must take over the space left by Pedro and Gabigol. Playing against the Rio rival brings back good memories for the player. In this year's Carioca he scored two goals against Botafogo.

At the time, Carlinhos was wearing the Nova Iguaçu number 9 shirt. The match was held in February, at the Engenhão stadium, in the sixth round of the tournament. Botafogo led 2-0, but Carlinhos led his team's reaction by scoring two goals. In the end, the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

The game against Botafogo will be Carlinhos' fourth as a starter with the Rubro-Negro shirt. He was part of Tite's lineup against Palmeiras, Atlético-MG and São Paulo. Against the Minas Gerais club, number 22 scored the second goal of the game.

Without Pedro, Gabigol and Everton Cebolinha, Mengão's number 22 should gain a sequence in Tite's starting team . In addition to the match against Botafogo, he should be selected in the starting eleven against Bolívar, on Thursday (22), in the return game of the round of 16.

As Pedro and Gabigol only return in September , Carlinhos should also play against: Bragantino (25); in the first game of the quarterfinals of the Copa do Brasil (27, 28 or 29); and Corinthians (01/09).

Signed by Mais Querido after being second top scorer in the Campeonato Carioca, striker Carlinhos projected to win all the titles that Flamengo has to compete for this season. The projection was made during 'Carona com Smigol', a FLATV program.

In the conversation, he said that “this energy of ours, this vibration of ours in each training session and each game, everyone donating to the maximum, so nothing is better than finishing as champions of the Brazilian Championship, we will achieve that, God willing. Let's look for all possible titles.”