"I DIDN'T EVEN IN MY BEST DREAMS IMAGINE THAT"! PLAYER SAYS ABOUT MOMENT LIVING IN FLAMENGO

This Tuesday (16), journalist André Rizek participated in the Charla Podcast and once again gained prominence on social media when talking about Flamengo. Questioned by Bruno Cantarelli about the way the press treats the club , the SporTV presenter pointed out what he considers a “bad habit” of the red-black fan.

André Rizek: "Flamengo has a noble treatment"

According to Rizek, over the years, the media has created a culture in which the spotlight focuses on Flamengo , while rivals with similar achievements don't receive the same recognition. This behavior, he says, has accustomed fans to always expecting "noble treatment."

"When I came to live in Rio de Janeiro in 2010, my first shock was the media coverage. The first thing I noticed was that Flamengo gets a noble treatment. For example, if Flamengo wins the Guanabara Cup: 'Guanabara belongs to Mengão!' Then Botafogo wins the State Championship: 'Botafogo wins an empty State Championship.' Wait, something's different," said the journalist.

“FLACENTRISM” AND THE ROLE OF THE PRESS

Rizek also cited recent examples to illustrate his point. According to him, any praise given to players from other clubs invariably generates comparisons with Flamengo , as when he praised Jhon Arias when he was still a Fluminense player.

"I said that Jhon Arias was, in my opinion, the best and most complete player active in Brazil. 'But what about Arrasca?' I wasn't talking about Flamengo, I was talking about Arias. You can't praise anything outside of Flamengo. A media culture has been created in Brazil that says: 'To Flamengo, everything; to others, beatings, mockery, belittling, and disrespect.' Flamengo is the most popular club in Brazil, a very powerful brand . But the others also need to be treated with respect," he added.

PROTAGONISM IN THE MEDIA

Despite the criticism, it's worth noting that part of this impact also stems from the engagement of rival fans, a phenomenon dubbed "Flacentrism" by the nation. Since 2019, any prominent team in Brazilian football has been compared to Jorge Jesus' historic team , such as Botafogo in 2024 or Abel Ferreira's Palmeiras. The same goes for players: every prominent number 10 in the country ends up being measured against Arrascaeta.

Because of its successful history and the strength of its fans, Flamengo tends to maintain a privileged position in the media . However, how this prominence is constructed is also influenced by the behavior of fans of other teams.

Flamengo and São Paulo take to the field this Wednesday (17), at 6 pm (Brasília time), at the Morumbis stadium, to decide a place in the quarterfinals of the Women's Brazil Cup. The competition, which returned to the Brazilian football calendar after nine years , will be decided in a single game in this phase. Whoever wins advances directly to the next stage.

On the other hand, Flamengo is enjoying a good run in the competition. In the previous round, Rosana Augusto's team thrashed Operário-MS 6-0 , with Mariane scoring a hat trick.

MATCH DETAILS

📅 Date: 9/17/2025

⏰ Time: 6pm (Brasília time)

📍 Location: Morumbis Stadium, São Paulo (SP)

📺 Broadcast: SporTV

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Coach: Thiago Viana .

Flamengo: Vivi Holzel; Monalisa, Agustina, Flavia Mota, Jucinara; Ju Ferreira, Djeni, Glaucia; Laysa and Cristiane. Coach: Rosana Augusto.

Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, is experiencing a period of uncertainty at Cruzeiro. A reserve under Leonardo Jardim, the striker has already publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of minutes. " I'm looking for minutes, he (Leonardo Jardim) knows that ," he said after scoring the winning goal against Bahia last Monday (15).

According to information from journalist Jorge Nicola, Corinthians appears as a possible destination for the number 9 , former Flamengo player, who could be negotiated in 2026 if nothing changes until the end of the season.

CORINTHIANS EVALUATES COST-BENEFIT

The current Corinthians board sees Gabigol as an interesting opportunity, especially when compared to Dutchman Memphis Depay. According to the survey, Depay earns R$6 million per month, while the Cruzeiro striker's salary is R$2.4 million . Furthermore, the Brazilian is 31 years old, two years younger than the European.

The "courtship" between Corinthians and Gabigol isn't recent . There have been at least three previous negotiations. Internally at Cruzeiro, there's an understanding that the player's departure could be beneficial for both parties, as he arrived as a star and now plays a supporting role.

GABIGOL'S TRAJECTORY

Gabigol arrived at Cruzeiro on a free transfer after ending his stint with Flamengo. He has a four-year contract with the Minas Gerais club and has so far played 35 matches, scored 12 goals , and provided four assists.

An idol for the Rubro-Negro, the striker wrote one of the most successful chapters in Flamengo's recent history. Between 2019 and 2023, he played 308 matches, scored 161 goals, and won 13 titles , including two Copa Libertadores da América titles. His most memorable moment came in the 2019 final against River Plate, when he scored two decisive goals, cementing his nickname "Immortal Rubro-Negro."