Milan dreams of signing Flamengo player for 2026

Portuguesa is continuing its plan with the SAF to regain its leading role in Brazilian football. As part of this plan, the São Paulo club announced the hiring of Fábio Matias , former Flamengo coach, who will face the Campeonato Paulista as his first challenge.

Fábio Matias, ex-Flamengo, on the deal with Portuguesa: "I'm very happy to have the opportunity"

Matias replaces Cauan de Almeida, who was fired a month ago after the team's relegation from the Brazilian Championship's Série D. The new manager's contract runs until the end of the state championship. " Portuguesa is a club with a lot of history and tradition, with a passionate fan base , and I'm very happy to have the opportunity to be here, participating in this rebuilding project," said the coach, who previously worked for Mais Querido.

FÁBIO MATIAS' TRAJECTORY

Fábio Matias was Flamengo 's interim coach before Paulo Sousa's arrival in 2022, taking over the team in two games against Portuguesa-RJ and Volta Redonda , with one win and one draw in the Campeonato Carioca, in addition to leading the team in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior.

After his time at Rubro-Negro, he managed Red Bull Bragantino's under-23 team, worked as an assistant at Botafogo and also worked at Coritiba , Juventude and Atlético-GO, helping to save Jaconero from relegation in 2024.

FLAMENGO REMAINS FOCUSED ON THE NEXT GAMES

Meanwhile, Flamengo, Matias' former team, is preparing to face Cruzeiro this Thursday (02) , at 8:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 54 points, four more than Raposa, who is in second place.

Every Flamengo fan knows Flamengo's historic 1981 lineup, featuring Zico, Tita, Lico, and Nunes in attack. But, according to the club's greatest legend, the number 9 from that World Cup title would not be replaced by Gabigol , the striker who shone in 2019 .

Zico on Gabigol being able to play for Flamengo in 1981: "it would be difficult"

"Given the position he played at Flamengo , it would have been difficult. His characteristics are completely different from Nunes, who was a center forward. In Jorge Jesus's system, Gabigol played more in the middle, while Bruno Henrique played on the left . When Gabigol moved to the right, Bruno moved to the middle," Zico explained.

Galinho also detailed the dynamics of the 1981 attack: "Nunes was more fixed and moved more to the left side. Tita and Lico played on the wings, along with Andrade. Adílio and I were free to get forward . To bring Gabigol on, there would have to be a new formation," he added in an interview with 'Romário TV'.

GABIGOL AMONG THE GREATEST IDOLS

Despite not replacing Nunes, Zico recognizes Gabriel's importance to the club's recent history . When asked if the Cruzeiro striker would be among Flamengo 's five greatest idols, the Gávea number 10 replied without hesitation:

"I'd put him among the top five. He was important during a period of triumph. Flamengo had great idols, but not all of them achieved the same level of success as Gabigol . He had a strong connection with the fans. An idol is someone who inspires children, young people, and he did that," he said.

GABIGOL FACES FLAMENGO

This Thursday (02), Gabigol will have the chance to meet Flamengo again. The Cruzeiro striker faces Mengão at 8:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Maracanã, for the 26th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 54 points, 4 more than Raposa, second place in the championship.

Flamengo hosts Cruzeiro this Thursday (2) , at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã, in a direct confrontation at the top of the Brazilian Championship table. Rubro-Negro has 54 points in 24 games, four more than the Minas Gerais team, which has already played 25 matches . The duel promises to be one of the most anticipated of the competition and should bring a large crowd to the stadium.

Two days before the match, the club announced that tickets were sold out in almost all sections of the Maracanã . The only available option is the South Section, with sales made exclusively through the website ingressos.flamengo.com.br

HOW TO BUY TICKETS

• The club detailed the step-by-step process to guarantee entry:
• Register facial biometrics.
• Access the website ingressos.flamengo.com.br.
• Log in with email/password, Nation account or FLAID.
• Select the Flamengo x Cruzeiro game.
• Choose the South Sector and click on “Buy tickets”.
• Fill in the fan's details (name, CPF and date of birth).
• Confirm the purchase, accept the terms of use and make the payment.

TICKET PRICES

• Maraca Nation 1: R$ 25
• Maraca Nation 2: R$ 35
• Maraca Nation 3: R$40
• General Public: R$ 100 (half-price: R$ 50)