Mauro Cezar analyzes Flamengo's mixed team against LAFC: “they can win”

Next Monday (11), Flamengo's Deliberative Council will meet to discuss important issues related to the club's future . The main topic on the agenda will be the concession of Maracanã, currently shared with Fluminense, but the focus of the meeting should go beyond the partnership with the tricolor rival.

President Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as BAP, will present to the board members the reasons why the club's new stadium project is not financially viable at this time . The club is expected to opt for Maracanã as its main home , putting the construction of its own arena on hold.

Rodolfo Landim on Bap's proposed postponement of Flamengo's stadium: "It's killing the project"

GASOMETER PROJECT FACES OBSTACLES

The Gasômetro site, in central Rio de Janeiro, was acquired by the previous administration, led by Rodolfo Landim, but ran into bureaucratic hurdles and a lack of progress with the city government . The former president even expressed concern about the project's future.

"It's killing the project. If it doesn't move forward, the mayor won't get the law approved . He'll have to negotiate with Caixa to return the land. There's a huge risk, not a small one. The only reason it didn't happen is because the mayor is patient. All it takes is for the mayor to say, 'I'm tired,'" Landim declared in an interview with Rádio Tupi.

According to CNN, the estimated cost of building the stadium exceeds R$2 billion. Despite Flamengo 's financial strength, this investment would represent a considerable impact on the club's coffers , with the potential to even affect professional football, the club's main asset.

PRIORITY IS MARACANÃ

With the Maracanã concession secured for nearly two decades, the current administration believes this is a time for caution. According to Bap, the idea is to use this period to further strengthen the club and, in the future, reassess the viability of its own stadium.

"The stadium is important, it's a dream, but we've been waiting years for the training center. It took us over 20 years to build it. I've owned the Maracanã for 19 years. So, I have 19 years to do this. We need to achieve a lot, fill our coffers . When there's more clarity and money, we'll make the decision," the director stated.

This Wednesday (6), Atlético-MG and Flamengo take to the field for the second leg of the round of 16 of the 2025 Copa do Brasil, at 7 pm (Brasília time), at Arena MRV, in Belo Horizonte. The match will be broadcast live on Sportv and Premiere.

In the first leg, played at Maracanã, the Minas Gerais team won 1-0 and now needs only a draw to secure a place in the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, Rubro-Negro, led by Filipe Luís , needs a simple one-goal victory to take the final to penalties. If they win by two or more goals, they advance directly to the next round.

FLAMENGO HAS SHORTAGES

The red-and-black team will have significant absences for the match. Bruno Henrique and Luiz Araújo were left out of the squad due to workload management, due to the high number of games accumulated this season.

With that, coach Filipe Luís will need to find solutions to maintain the team's offensive play and seek victory away from home . The Mais Querido hasn't won in two consecutive games (Atlético-MG and Ceará).

ATLÉTICO-MG PACKED

On the other hand, Atlético-MG is enjoying a good run of form under Cuca . After winning their first match against Flamengo , the team returned to the field last weekend and defeated Red Bull Bragantino 2-1 in a Brazilian Championship match.

On Tuesday night (5), midfielder Reinier, 23 , landed at Confins International Airport, in Minas Gerais, to undergo medical examinations and sign a contract with Atlético-MG. The contract will last four and a half years , and the player is just waiting for the regularization to be available to the technical committee.

"I was trying to find my happiness. I'd been on loan for five years. I wasn't happy. Bracks was chasing me, and so was Victor, valuing me. I talked to Cuca. I'm very happy with the project and I think it's going to be a great success," he declared.

ATLÉTICO ACQUIRES 50% OF THE RIGHTS

Negotiations between Atlético-MG and Real Madrid were concluded in recent days. The Minas Gerais club acquired 50% of the player's economic rights, while the other 50% remains with the Spanish club. Reinier had been under contract with Real since January 2020, when he was sold by Flamengo for €30 million (approximately R$136 million at the time).

Despite the high expectations surrounding his arrival in Europe, the midfielder never played any official matches for Real Madrid's first team. In recent years, he has had spells at clubs such as Borussia Dortmund, Girona, and Frosinone, all on loan.

PASSAGE THROUGH FLAMENGO

A Flamengo product, Reinier was nurtured by the Rio de Janeiro club, where he stood out in the 2019 squad that won the Libertadores and Brasileirão titles . His multi-million dollar move to European football generated high expectations, but his time away from home has not been as consistent as expected.