Messi or Cristiano? Zico, Flamengo's idol, talks about his preference: "It's a right goal, put"

Santos officially presented, this Friday (5), midfielder Victor Hugo , 21 years old. The athlete, on loan from Flamengo until mid-2026, will wear the number 29 shirt and was received by idol Clodoaldo during the press conference . The “Cria do Ninho” highlighted that Neymar's message was decisive in his decision to play for the São Paulo club.

"They really had other options. From the moment Neymar sends a message, it makes a difference," the midfielder stated. He also revealed his admiration for the star: " Neymar was the one who made me fall in love with football when I was younger . I've always followed him closely. He's an idol to me. That really had an impact."

EXPERIENCE IN Türkiye

The athlete emphasized that his recent stint with Göztepe in Turkey helped improve his defensive performance. However, his desire now is to regain the attacking characteristics that marked his youth development. " In the youth academy, I was always number 10. [...] I have the ability to get forward to score goals. That's something I want to recover, to get forward more, to score more goals, " he projected.

FLAMENGO'S PROMISE

Victor Hugo is considered one of the most promising young players in the Mais Querido youth academy in recent years. Promoted to the main squad in 2022, he participated in the Copa do Brasil and Libertadores victories that year. However, he lost his place under Tite and ended up on loan. Now, at Santos, the youngster hopes to regain prominence and take a new step in his career.

Upon his return, he nearly agreed to a move to Famalicão-POR. The deal fell through, and the player even received a few minutes under Filipe Luís. However, he didn't win over the coaching staff and was underused.

Last Thursday (4), Uruguay beat Peru 3-0 at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, securing their place in the next World Cup . Arrascaeta started and scored the second goal of the match, remaining on the field for 69 minutes. With the result, the Celeste Olímpica joins Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia and Paraguay as representatives of South America. Venezuela and Bolivia are already competing for a place in the play-offs.

After the victory, Marcelo Bielsa praised the midfielder's performance and highlighted the Gávea club's role in the athlete's recovery, as he had faced physical problems in recent years. The coach made a point of thanking the club's professionals for their work.

“ Regarding Arrascaeta, I would like to give special recognition to Flamengo's technical and medical staff, who have made Arrascaeta a different player this season, this year, than the one I initially knew ,” said Bielsa.

COACH PRAISES REGULARITY

Bielsa highlighted the player's development, emphasizing his importance to both the national team and the club. " Today, he's a player like I'd heard before. And only this year have I been able to see him in terms of his trajectory , what people say about him, and what he's done for the national team. He's very valuable, but what he does at Flamengo , playing twice a week, scoring goals, providing assists... He's a player who, in this form, is very good," the coach added.

ARRASCAETA'S NUMBERS IN THE SEASON

Enjoying one of the best moments of his career, the Uruguayan has played 42 games for Mengão in 2024, 37 of them as a starter. The midfielder has excelled in goalscoring and consistent performances, solidifying his position as a key player in the team's strategy.

Three weeks ago, Juninho's representatives presented the club with two loan offers from Arab football . The board, however, rejected the proposals, making it clear that they would only agree to a permanent deal for the striker for a fair fee. Thus, despite previously being on the "expendable" list, the player remained on the roster and will be reused.

Despite the limited opportunities he's had on the pitch so far, Filipe Luís expresses confidence in Juninho. The coach noted that the striker has performed well in training and is maintaining good physical shape. He is expected to return to the squad and earn playing time in the Brazilian Championship. It's worth noting that his signing was approved by the coaching staff at the time.

TECHNICAL COMMITTEE PRIORITIZES INTERNAL SOLUTIONS

Bruno Henrique's suspension is unlikely to result in any market movements. Mengão was already considering the possibility of losing the number 27 and believes the current squad offers sufficient alternatives. Filipe Luís believes Pedro has reached his peak physical form and can assume a greater offensive role , while Gonzalo Plata and Wallace Yan are options for the midfield. Furthermore, Juninho will be reinstated in the Brasileirão squad.

DETAILS OF THE STJD DECISION

The Superior Court of Sports Justice sentenced Bruno Henrique this Thursday (29) to a 12-game suspension and the payment of a fine of R$60,000 . The decision is valid for national competitions, such as the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil, but does not affect, for now, the Libertadores.

However, the case is expected to be referred to FIFA . If the governing body agrees to extend the ban, the striker will also be barred from international matches, increasing the impact of the punishment for Mengão.