MUCH TALENT! FLAMENGO CREATOR SCORES A GOAL IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND SAVES HIS TEAM FROM DEFEAT

The Sinergia Rubro-Negra Group (SRN), made up of influential partners from Flamengo, held a meeting last Saturday (7), at the club's headquarters, located in Gávea. The main objective of the meeting was to promote fraternization among the participants, but, inevitably, club politics ended up dominating the discussions throughout the event.

The main topic that emerged during the meeting was the support of the SRN to Rodrigo Dunshee's candidacy for president of Flamengo. Dunshee, who currently holds the position of general and legal vice-president of the club, is a prominent figure in the red-black political scene. The group, made up of members who share an aligned vision regarding the club's management, sees in Dunshee a name prepared to take over Flamengo's leadership, especially considering the upcoming electoral cycle.

During the event, members of the SRN highlighted Dunshee's role in the current administration, remembering that he was a fundamental player in several legal achievements of the Flamengo in recent years. The group believes that his experience and proximity to the club's internal processes make him the ideal candidate to succeed current president Rodolfo Landim, whose tenure ends at the end of his term. 

Although the initial objective of the meeting was a celebration between the partners, it was inevitable that the conversations turned to Flamengo's political future. The club's presidential elections are approaching, and political groups are already beginning to articulate support and strategies. The SRN, being a strong group within the red-black political structure, has stood out for its organization and capacity to mobilize members.

Those present discussed, among other topics, the possible implications of a possible Dunshee's candidacy. His name has been circulating among members for some time, but now, with the explicit support of the SRN, his candidacy is gaining strength. The members highlighted that Dunshee is a name of continuity, someone who is already part of the current management and deeply knows the challenges and needs of the club. This, in the group's view, represents a positive point, as Dunshee could continue the projects started under the Landim administration.

Flamengo continues to debate whether to look for a replacement for Pedro, a striker who is recovering from an injury. The decision is complex, involving several variables ranging from the financial cost to the availability of players on the market. One of the main points under discussion is the high cost of a possible replacement. The club is aware that signing a center forward may require a significant investment, something that needs to be carefully evaluated within the team's current budget.

In addition, Flamengofaces the challenge of downtime of players available on the market. Many of the center forwards who are free for transfer come from long periods without playing, with recent injuries or prolonged absence from the field. This situation represents a risk, as the integration of a player who is not in the rhythm of the game may take longer and be less effective initially.

The club is also considering the limited number of viable options on the market. The scarcity of attackers who meet the criteria required by Flamengo – both in terms of quality and physical readiness – is a factor that further complicates the search for a suitable replacement. 

In this scenario, the management of Flamengo assesses whether signing a new player is the best solution or whether there are viable alternatives to deal with Pedro's absence, such as adjusting the tactical formation or promoting youth players. The final decision is still being studied, and the club needs to carefully consider all aspects before making a decision.

Flamengo is close to finalizing the signing of the left-back Alex Sandro, ex-Juventus, from Italy. The player has been without a club since the end of his contract with the Italian team and has been training in Portugal, at Portimonense's facilities, to maintain ideal physical shape while looking for a club to play for. In the red and black, the defender will rediscover a commander with whom he had a good run.

In the Brazilian team, coach Tite called up Alex Sandro regularly since the first in 2017. With Flamengo's current coach, the full-back He started 80% of the games (27 of 34) and scored two goals for 'Canarinho'. At the 2022 World Cup, Alex Sandro started two of the three matches he played, and was injured after the second round of the group stage, against Switzerland.

At Flamengo, the full-back hopes to have sequence and, in doing so, attract the attention of another former commander. Dorival Júnior was the one who put him in the starting lineup for Santos, in 2010, when Alex Sandro was just 19 years old. Dorival asked to sign the athlete when he was coaching São Paulo in 2023, but negotiations did not progress. The player understands that good games for the red and black can put him back in the sights of the Brazilian team.

Alex Sandro's style of play is very similar to that of another full-back whom Flamengo fans remember - with great affection. Just like Filipe Luís, Alex Sandro has good marking ability, which gives more freedom to the men in midfield, and also initiates plays and seeks to play inside, as the current coach of the Red and Black Under-20s did. Check out SofaScore's comparative heat map below.

The player will probably need some time before he can make his debut. Despite staying in shape in Portugal, Alex Sandro has not played since Juventus' 2-0 victory over Monza, in the last round of the Italian Serie A. The defender even scored a header in that match. Alex Sandro is the Brazilian with the most appearances for the ‘Old Lady’ with 327 appearances wearing the shirt of the greatest Italian champion. There, he was champion of the League on five occasions and the Italian Cup five times, in addition to two Super Cups