Argentine midfielder offered to Flamengo to become 'new number 10'

Flamengo made significant investments in the last transfer window, bolstering a squad that was already among the strongest in the country. However, one area ended up taking a backseat: defense . Despite analyzing names and receiving suggestions for defenders, the board opted not to sign any reinforcements for the position at this time.

According to ge, the club assessed that there was no immediate need to invest in the sector , understanding that Filipe Luís already has three defenders at national team level. Despite this, the lack of options proved problematic.

DEFENSE UNDER INTENSE LOAD

Currently, the red-and-black squad has Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira as regular starters, with Danilo and Cleiton as bench options. Fans, however, are wary of the alternatives. Danilo has struggled physically and hasn't been able to play a regular game , while Cleiton, a product of Ninho do Urubu, is still seen as a developing athlete, far from reaching the level required by the main team.

This limitation of options has led the two starters, Léo Ortiz and Léo Pereira , to play in almost every match, which increases wear and tear and concerns about the tight schedule , the duo even had a streak of 12 consecutive games.

BASE JEWELS CAN GAIN SPACE

According to ge, the topic should return to the board's agenda at the end of the season, when the need for defensive reinforcements will be reassessed . For now, the football department intends to focus on youth talents like João Victor and Iago, who should receive more opportunities in 2026.

The club's idea is to maintain the strategy of recent years, using the Campeonato Carioca as a showcase for promising young players and, gradually, also inserting them into the Brasileirão , which will now take place parallel to the state championship due to changes in the calendar.

Flamengo's hero at the U-20 World Cup, Iago is in a special phase and has been closely monitored by the coaching staff. João Victor, meanwhile, is internally considered the "future of the Flamengo defense." Despite this, both have received few chances in the first team under Filipe Luís.

The Brazilian football calendar is paralyzed due to the FIFA World Cup , but the Brazilian Championship is taking advantage of the period without national team matches to catch up on delayed matches. This Wednesday (8), two matches will move the competition: Atlético-MG x Sport and Mirassol x Fluminense.

BRAZILIAN CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES TODAY

• 7pm – Atlético-MG x Sport – Arena MRV
• 9pm – Mirassol x Fluminense – José Maria de Campos Maia Municipal Stadium

The first match of the day takes place at 7 pm (Brasília time), with Atlético-MG hosting Sport, in a postponed match from the 14th round. The Minas Gerais team is in 15th place, with 29 points , while the Pernambuco club is last with just 16 points.

Soon after, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), Fluminense visits Mirassol, in a delayed duel of the 13th round. The Rio de Janeiro team is in seventh place, with 38 points , while the São Paulo team occupies the sixth position, totaling 43 points.

AND FLAMENGO?

While the Brasileirão has its make-up games, Flamengo is taking advantage of the FIFA World Cup break to regroup and adjust its preparations for the final stretch of the season . The next match for Filipe Luís's team will be against Botafogo on October 15th at 7:30 pm (Brasília time) at Nilton Santos Stadium, in the 28th round.

After the 1-0 defeat to Bahia, last Sunday (5), Flamengo lost the championship lead and dropped to second place, with 55 points . Palmeiras achieved the same score, but has an advantage in the tiebreaker criteria.

FLAMENGO'S DELAYED GAME

Flamengo also has a game pending in the Brasileirão. The match against Sport, valid for the 12th round, was postponed due to the red-and-black's participation in the Club World Cup . To date, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has not yet set a new date for the match between the Mais Querido and the Leão, which is expected to be rescheduled for the coming weeks.

Flamengo's Deliberative Council met on Tuesday night (7) to address the controversy surrounding Libra's broadcasting rights . In addition to clarifying points reported in the press, the meeting also included ironic responses to critics of the club's stance.

Flávio Willeman: "They tried to mislead society into believing that Flamengo benefited from choosing the Rio de Janeiro courts"

During the speech, Flamengo 's general vice-president, Flávio Willeman, refuted insinuations that the club had benefited from taking legal action in the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice to obtain the injunction that blocked the transfer of funds to the other clubs in the league.

WILLEMAN DEFENDS CHOICE OF FORUM

Without naming names, Willeman mocked a comment from a "journalist" who suggested that Flamengo only obtained a favorable ruling by appealing to the Rio de Janeiro courts . The director emphasized that the choice of jurisdiction was established in a contract and signed by all Libra clubs.

"The Rio de Janeiro State Courts were heavily attacked by a certain journalist, and Flamengo was also indirectly attacked. It's important to note that all parties chose the jurisdiction of the Rio de Janeiro District Court . This is stated in the Libra contract, which stipulates that any pre-arbitration proceedings would be filed here," Willeman explained.

The vice president also rejected the theory that the club sought a more favorable court: "They tried to mislead society into believing that Flamengo benefited from choosing the Rio de Janeiro court system. I believe that the Rio de Janeiro court system is one of the best, if not the best, in Brazil and would never allow a case of this magnitude to be judged with a lack of impartiality. This argument is a lie."

PVC AND BENJAMIN BACK GO VIRAL WITH COMMENTS

On social media, Paulo Vinicius Coelho (PVC) and Benjamin Back went viral with their ironic comments on the case. PVC highlighted the fact that the injunction came from the "Court of Justice of Rio de Janeiro," emphasizing the city's name, while Benjamin insinuated that the club acted to financially strangle the other league members.

" Bap was the bogeyman. At the crucial moment, in the 45th minute of the second half, he froze . The injunction was in Rio de Janeiro," said Benjamin Back. The statements prompted the Rio de Janeiro State Magistrates Association (AMAERJ) to issue a statement of condemnation, defending the impartiality of the state justice system and criticizing the public insinuations.

WHAT FLAMENGO DID IN COURT

The impasse began after Flamengo expressed dissatisfaction with Libra's revenue-sharing model . The club attempted to negotiate adjustments with the other members, but, without progress, appealed to the Rio de Janeiro courts.

The injunction obtained by the club ordered the freezing of R$77 million, corresponding to the second installment of the broadcast rights contract signed with Globo. The decision generated strong reaction among the other clubs, who considered the measure a breach of the league's collective principles.

With the issue still under judicial dispute, the episode intensifies the political and commercial rift within Libra, while Flamengo maintains its defense that it is only seeking respect for contractual clauses and greater transparency in revenue distribution metrics.