“Best game of the year”, says Matheus Cunha after victory against Palmeiras, at Maracanã

Gerson's farewell to Flamengo had its final chapter this Tuesday (8), with the player returning to Ninho do Urubu to say goodbye to employees and teammates. Negotiated with Zenit, from Russia, for the value of the termination clause of 25 million euros (around R$ 160 million), the midfielder did not give interviews and opted for a discreet farewell, without public statements so far.

Gerson arrived at Flamengo 's training center in the morning and watched part of the activity on the field. According to images released by FlaTV, the player spoke with teammates, collected his belongings and left the place without speaking to the press. The club also avoided any major demonstrations, issuing only a short statement confirming his departure.

RECOGNITION OF THE FLAMENGO CAST

The farewell, marked by distance, contrasted with the relationship built with the fans since 2019, when the number 8 first arrived at the club from Roma. Until now, Gerson has not posted any messages on social media either. Behind the scenes, the departure was treated as inevitable after the full payment of the contractual fine.

TRANSFER MARKET OPENS UP FOR THE MOST LOVED

However, the lack of a public farewell and the silence on social media reinforce the cold climate surrounding the transfer. The stance may be linked to the negative reaction of part of the red-black fans, who did not welcome the player's return to Europe, especially in the middle of a season underway and after taking on the captain's armband.

Before his visit to Ninho, Gerson organized a private party over the weekend. The event was attended by teammates and close friends. Arrascaeta was one of those who paid tribute to the number 8, who preferred not to open the meeting to the press. Now former captain of Flamengo, Gerson is heading to Saint Petersburg, home of Zenit, to begin the third stage of his international career. The Russian club was direct in executing the termination clause and did not leave room for negotiation, which excluded Flamengo from the process. The midfielder will sign a contract valid for five seasons.

Back in Brazil after participating in the Club World Cup, Flamengo turned the tables on the national competitions . The elimination in the round of 16, with a 4-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, did not shake the red-and-black squad. On the contrary: it served as fuel for the rest of the year, according to defender Léo Pereira.

Léo Pereira on Flamengo's current situation: “We returned from a world-class competition, much stronger, it elevated us”

The Rubro-Negro ended the group stage of the international tournament with two wins and one draw. They beat Espérance-TUN and Chelsea in the first two rounds, and tied with Los Angeles FC, who had already qualified as group leaders. Despite this, the draw for the round of 16 put Flamengo in the most difficult position in the group. Their opponent was Bayern Munich, who won 4-2, taking advantage of a sleepy start by the Brazilian team.

FLAMENGO HAS A NEW DIRECTION

The elimination did not erase the consistent performance in the first rounds. For the squad, the match against Bayern served as a wake-up call and an opportunity for growth. Léo Pereira emphasized the importance of playing high-level matches as preparation for the challenges ahead. “We know we still have a lot to improve, but this experience has given us an even higher competitive standard,” said the defender.

ELIMINATION OF THE MOST WANTED NORMALITY

With the early elimination, Flamengo gained an important “reinforcement”: more time to train. The team was given time off by the board shortly after returning to Brazil, and returned to training at the end of last week at Ninho do Urubu. This window without games is seen internally as one of the greatest opportunities for adjustments and improvements. “These days of preparation were great for improving and fixing details,” assessed Léo Pereira.

Léo Pereira 's speech has been echoed among the other players and members of the coaching staff. There is a perception that Flamengo is evolving, with good prospects in the Brazilian Championship and other competitions. "We are returning from a world-class competition, much stronger, it has elevated us."

Like Flamengo , Botafogo is active in the window and has reopened talks to sign striker Roberto Firmino , 33, who plays for Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The information was provided by journalist Jorge Nicola on his YouTube channel this Tuesday.

DETAILS

According to Nicola, the black and white team has two major advantages: the first is the lack of offers from Europe for the striker, and the second is the presence of Davide Ancelotti, since a success at Botafogo could help him return to the Brazilian National Team, led by the father of the black and white coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

On the other hand, the financial issue is the main obstacle. Firmino earns a salary of around R$10 million per month in Saudi Arabia, and it is also likely that Al-Ahli will ask for a good financial compensation to release him, as the striker's contract runs until June 2026.

FLAMENGO CAME TO MONITORING FIRMINO

The red-and-black team kept a close eye on the striker's future before the Club World Cup. The striker was considered an athlete with characteristics that pleased coach Filipe Luís. The center forward's international experience and playing style were seen as positive points for a possible fit into the red-and-black squad.

In short, Roberto Firmino has every intention of leaving Saudi football. Last season for Al-Ahli, the Brazilian striker scored 12 goals – two of them in the AFC Champions League final , in the title win over Kawasaki Frontale – and provided 10 assists in 31 games.