Flamengo's biggest victory over Internacional featured a show by Adriano

Signed with star status, Gabigol is still seeking regular starting positions at Cruzeiro. Unlike what he became accustomed to during his years as a star player at Flamengo, the striker is currently in a transitional phase. Even though he's not a regular in the starting eleven, he's been touted as an important player in Leonardo Jardim's project.

Pedro Junio, vice president of the Minas Gerais club, emphasized in an interview with the program Donos da Bola that the number 9 did not disappoint. According to the director, the striker has fulfilled everything agreed upon at the time of his signing, both on the field and in marketing. " He delivers everything we agreed on, both in the sporting and commercial and marketing aspects . Gabriel was a package deal we signed, and he delivers," he noted.

BOARD DEFENDS GABIGOL'S PARTICIPATION

Since arriving at Toca da Raposa, Gabigol has started 11 matches, initially under Fernando Diniz and later under Leonardo Jardim. Following the 1-1 draw with São Paulo on April 13th, in the third round of the Brasileirão , the striker has lost his place in the starting lineup. Even so, management emphasizes that there is no dissatisfaction or bad blood behind the scenes.

" Cruzeiro's advantage is that everyone understands that Cruzeiro is the top priority. Regardless of who's playing or not," explained Pedro Junio, highlighting the positive internal atmosphere at the club and the players' maturity in accepting coaching decisions.

GABIGOL REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO CRUZEIRO

Despite recurring speculation that he's unhappy about not being a regular starter, Gabigol has publicly expressed his composure about this new phase. After the 2-0 victory over Vila Nova on May 1st in the Copa do Brasil , the striker addressed the issue directly.

" I'm very calm about it. I know the pressure there is , and there are a lot of people who say things without realizing it. I try to work hard, show my football skills on the field," he said. On that occasion, the striker also highlighted the welcome he received at the club and reinforced his desire to continue contributing.

Flamengo returns to the national stage this Saturday (12), after a stint at the Club World Cup, with full focus on the Brazilian Championship. The team led by Filipe Luís leads the table with 24 points, despite having played one game less, maintaining the best attack and the tightest defense in the competition so far. The ball rolls at 4:30 pm, at Maracanã, with broadcast on TV Globo and Premiere.

Flamengo will be without midfielder Erick Pulgar, who suffered a fractured right foot, and Pedro, who was sidelined by Filipe Luís . This will also be the first match without Gerson, who recently left the club to Zenit in Russia.

SAO PAULO SEEKS REACTION

On the other side, São Paulo is undergoing a period of restructuring. After a 3-1 loss to Vasco and the departure of Luis Zubeldía , the club has decided to bring back Hernán Crespo as coach. The São Paulo team will have important reinforcements who recovered during the break: Lucas Moura, Oscar, Marcos Antônio, and Ferreirinha are available again.

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

The red-and-black fans promise to once again fill the stadium. As of last Thursday (10), more than 46 thousand tickets had already been sold. With the removal of free tickets, the expectation is that around 60 thousand fans will attend Maracanã to support Mengão in its search for three more points.

TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO WATCH: FLAMENGO X SÃO PAULO

📆 Date: July 12 (Saturday)

🕓 Time: 4:30 pm (Brasília time)

📍 Location: Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro (RJ)

📺 Broadcast: Globo and Premiere

👤 Referee: Wilton Pereira Sampaio (GO)

👥 Assistants: Bruno Boschilia (PR) and Bruno Raphael Pires (GO)

🎥 VAR: Braulio da Silva Machado (SC)

Probable lineups:

Flamengo : Rossi; Wesley, Leo Ortiz, Leo Pereira and Alex Sandro; Jorginho and De la Cruz; Luiz Araújo and Arrascaeta; Plata and Bruno Henrique.

Sovereign: Rafael; Sabino, Ferraresi and Alan Franco; Cédric Soares, Alisson, Marcos Antonio, Oscar and Enzo Díaz; Luciano and André Silva.

Flamengo's presence at the Club World Cup extended beyond the pitch. The direct impact on official merchandise sales highlighted the power of the red-and-black brand. According to data from Neotrust, an e-commerce monitoring company, the club saw a 55.1% increase in official jersey sales between June 15th and 30th.

AN OVERCHARGE OF THE MOST LOVED

In the same 15-day period the previous month, approximately 5,200 units had been sold. During the World Cup, the number jumped to 8,063 units, boosted by the club's significant participation in the tournament.

According to Vanessa Martins, marketing director at Neotrust, fan-consumer behavior is increasingly immediate. "Today's consumer doesn't wait to win a title to wear the jersey; they react in real time, driven by emotion and digital belonging," she explained. This movement reveals a growing engagement among the red-and-black fans, who respond quickly to moments of high club exposure, such as the match against Chelsea and the iconic victory over the English side.

GIANT NUMBERS OF THE MOST LOVED

Although not the highest percentage growth, Flamengo recorded the highest absolute sales volume among the Brazilian clubs participating in the Club World Cup. For comparison:

Flamengo: 8,063 shirts sold (+55.1%)

Fluminense: 3,129 shirts sold (+55.9%)

Palmeiras: 7,322 shirts sold (+16.6%)

Botafogo: 901 shirts sold (+37.8%)

The difference is even more significant when considering the national and international reach of the Flamengo brand, which already ranks among the clubs with the largest digital presence in South America. Beyond its commercial strength, Flamengo 's World Cup campaign also generated financial returns on the field. According to the data released, the club received US$27.71 million (approximately R$151.06 million) in bonuses paid by FIFA.