FLAMENGO'S LIST OF ABSENCES COULD INCREASE IN LIBERTADORES GAME

Flamengo faces Cruzeiro this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, in a duel valid for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship. The match will be broadcast by SporTV and Premiere, without showing on open TV.

The Rubro-Negro 's probable lineup for the match is: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira (Danilo) and Alex Sandro; Jorginho, Saúl and Arrascaeta; Gonzalo Plata (Carrascal), Samuel Lino and Pedro.

FOLLOW FLAMENGO X CRUZEIRO LIVE

SITUATION IN THE BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE

Flamengo leads Série A with 54 points, followed by Palmeiras with 52 and Cruzeiro with 50. The match is considered a "six-point" match as it could widen or narrow the gap at the top of the table between the championship leaders.

The Red-Black Nation is preparing another big party at the stadium . All sections are already sold out, and ticket sales began in September, with priority given to club members, followed by opening to the general public.

Flamengo continues working behind the scenes to secure the retention of key players. With the transfer window now closed, the club has begun talks to extend the contracts of coach Filipe Luís, goalkeeper Rossi, and, most notably, Uruguayan midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta.

The club's board, represented by José Boto, is seeking to extend Arrascaeta's contract until 2029. The player's agent, Daniel Fonseca, is expected to meet with the club's leadership soon to finalize the final details. According to journalist Fabrício Lopes, proposals have already been exchanged between the parties, with only final adjustments remaining before the signing.

CONTRACT UNTIL THE END OF CAREER

The number 10 is expected to receive a pay raise as part of the deal. Arrascaeta is considered a key player in Filipe Luís' squad, racking up 14 goals and 10 assists in 22 Brasileirão matches this season. The star's goal is to play for Mengão until the end of his career. In 2029, he will be 35 years old.

FILIPE LUÍS IS ALSO CLOSE

In addition to Arrascaeta, the board is working to retain Filipe Luís. The coach, who took over after retiring as a player, has publicly stated his desire to stay for the long term. His current contract runs until December, and a smooth renewal is expected.

FLAMENGO X CRUZEIRO

While negotiating behind the scenes, the team focuses on the Brasileirão. Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro this Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 26th round of the competition. The duel is direct in the fight for leadership and can increase the red-black advantage at the top of the table.

Without a place alongside Filipe Luís at Flamengo, striker Michael 's name has once again been speculated on the transfer market . This time, he was mentioned as a possible Corinthians reinforcement for 2026. However, the information is untrue. According to Corinthians' board, there has been no contact with the player . The athlete's contract with the Rubro-Negro is valid until December 2028. This information comes from the MundoBola Flamengo portal.

CONTROVERSIAL PASSAGE

Michael returned to Flamengo in 2024, at Tite's request, after a remarkable stint in 2021, when he shone in the final stretch of the season . In his return, he scored against Red Bull Bragantino at Maracanã, but suffered an injury that kept him out of action for a period.

With Tite's departure, he had opportunities under Filipe Luís, including starting in the Copa do Brasil final against Atlético-MG. However, by 2025, he had lost his place. His last match was a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC in the Club World Cup group stage.

After that, he was included in matches against Grêmio, Juventude, and Estudiantes, but didn't make it off the bench . He wasn't even included against Vasco, and in the Libertadores Cup, he was sidelined due to ankle pain, specifically against Corinthians.

FRUSTRATED NEGOTIATION WITH SAUDI FOOTBALL

Before being linked with Corinthians , Michael almost left Flamengo in July. The club received an offer from Al-Ula of Saudi Arabia for a one-year loan: $2.5 million (approximately R$14 million), with a purchase option set at $4 million (approximately R$22.5 million). The deal, however, fell through, and the striker remained with Flamengo, despite his declining performance under Filipe Luís.