Soccer

What does Flamengo have at its base to make up for the lack of defense reinforcements? Check it out

Among the alternatives are one who is a pupil of the coach himself, a grandson of a former national team and two who were taken from Brazil to complete the group in this final stretch of pre-season.

18 Jan 2025 | 11:19 |

O Flamengo is still in the market looking for a defender. Interested in Danilo, the red-black only has boys as options for coach Filipe Luís in the first game of the main team in 2025. Among the alternatives are one who is a pupil of the coach himself, a grandson of a former national team and two who were taken from Brazil to complete the group in this final stretch of pre-season.

Updating

Fla's conversations with Danilo remain at the same stage. The club already has an idea of some conditions to have the player and is awaiting a signal from him to send the proposal to return to Brazil. The defender is seen as a great market opportunity, and the sector is currently the priority.

Léo Pereira left the delegation after the death of a family member. Therefore, he is left out of the first friendly of the season. Léo Ortiz is the only experienced person available for the sector. Filipe Luís is also thinking about using an improvised Alex Sandro. The team will be defined in training this Saturday.

While they don't have a replacement with more running time, Fla has young players. Carbone, João Victor, Pedro Fachinetti and Cleiton are the names available for the game against São Paulo, on Sunday, at 5pm (Brasília time).

Is Pablo out of the plans? Not necessarily, but he is on the negotiable list. The starting defender of the Campeonato Carioca team practically did not take the field in 2024 and was not pleased in the first games of the season. He wants to stay to find space, but Fla would not be opposed to leaving. The high salary makes a transfer difficult.

Who are they?

João Carbone is the grandson of former midfielder and former coach José Luiz Carbone , who played for the Brazilian team in 73 and 74. The young man was a starter in the victorious U20 Libertadores campaign and participated in the pre-season last year, being used with Tite. The defender, however, had no opportunities in official matches. He took his first steps in his career as a left-back and was later dropped back at Grêmio, before arriving at Flamengo.

João Victor's presence in the pre-season was supported by José Boto. One of his first measures as director of Fla was not allowing the young man to serve on the Brazilian youth team. The defender was the first of the 2007 generation to debut for Flamengo as a professional and a starter in the under-20 World Cup. Even last year, when he was old enough to play for the under-17s, he was being called up by Ramon Menezes for the under-20 team. He turns 18 on January 1st. The fine to remove the young man from Gávea is 70 million euros (around R$431.5 million). The boy was hired in 2023 from Zumbi-AL, who became an underdog at Copinha. The team even beat Fla this year in the group stage.

Pedro Fachinetti aroused Alcaraz's curiosity as soon as he arrived in the United States. The Argentine wanted to know about the position, age and other information of the boy, who has a contract until 2027 and fine of 50 million euros (more than R$300 million). He can also play as a midfielder and was discovered by scouts at Salto FC, in São Paulo, and signed at the beginning of 2024. He worked with Filipe in the under-17s.

Last minute

Soccer

Rossi preaches focus on Flamengo despite dreaming of playing for the Argentine national team

The goalkeeper doesn't deny that reaching the current world champion is a goal, but says it's necessary to keep his head in his work at Mengão

Rossi doesn't deny his dream of wearing the Argentine national team shirt, but he urges focus on Flamengo - Photo: Adriano Fontes/Flamengo

16 Set 2025 | 22:00 |

In a press conference at Ninho do Urubu, goalkeeper Agustín Rossi spoke about his desire to be called up to the Argentina national team , the current world champion. Despite his dream, the goalkeeper made it clear that his priority remains Flamengo.

Rossi on his dream of joining the Argentine national team: "My job is for Flamengo"

"Obviously, I've always wanted to be called up. I think Brazilian football is very strong, not only in South America, but worldwide as well. In the last call-up, there were players from here. But I'm not thinking about that right now . I think that if I do my job well, that call-up could come," Rossi stated.

TOTAL FOCUS ON FLAMENGO

The Argentine stressed that he keeps his feet on the ground and that his main goal is to continue showing consistency for the Rubro-Negro , who have the best defense in the Brasileirão, conceding only 10 goals in 22 games. At Maracanã, the Mais Querido conceded only three goals.

"I'm in no rush, because my job is for Flamengo , day to day, game to game. My biggest focus is to maintain this streak so that the call-up can come. Of course I have that desire, but I don't treat it as a requirement . I'm Flamengo's goalkeeper, I'm responsible for Flamengo. If the call-up comes, I'll welcome it," he added.

INCOME AND TITLES WITH THE MANTLE

Since joining Flamengo in 2023, Rossi has already won four titles. Last season, he was a key player in the undefeated Carioca Championship and also played in the Copa do Brasil victory. In 2025, he maintained his starting spot in the Supercopa do Brasil and the Campeonato Estadual . In total, he has represented Flamengo in 125 official matches, establishing himself as a pillar of the team.

What does Flamengo have at its base to make up for the lack of defense reinforcements? Check it out