Keep an eye on the Club World Cup! Flamengo squad to return this Thursday

Flamengo is approaching the duel against Internacional , this Sunday (17), for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. This Saturday's activity (16) will be decisive, when coach Filipe Luís must define Mengão's starting team .

The final training session takes place at 9:30 a.m. (Brasília time) at the Ninho do Urubu Training Center. The coach is expected to field a full-strength squad for the match. The likely lineup is: Rossi; Varela, Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, and Alex Sandro; Allan and Jorginho; Plata, Samuel Lino, Arrascaeta , and Pedro.

SITUATION IN THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Flamengo leads the Brasileirão with 40 points, three ahead of second-place Cruzeiro , who still have a game in hand. In the 20th round, the Minas Gerais team visits Mirassol. With a win, Mengão will maintain its position as the sole leader of the competition.

SCHEDULE AND TRANSMISSION

Flamengo and Internacional face off at 6:30 PM (Brasília time) at Beira-Rio. The match will be broadcast on Premiere (pay-per-view) and SporTV (pay-per-view). You can stay up to date with all the details of the match at Gazeta do Urubu.

REHEARSAL FOR WEDNESDAY?

This will be the second of three consecutive matches between Flamengo and Internacional . Mengão won the first leg of the Copa Libertadores Round of 16 1-0 at Maracanã last Wednesday, and the return leg will take place at Beira-Rio on the 20th, with Internacional needing only a draw to secure qualification.

In a surprising move, Sportingbet, the bookmaker that already features on Palmeiras' shirt, is set to take over as Flamengo's master sponsor . The club confirmed on Friday afternoon (15) that there is already a winner in the competition for the most prestigious space on the uniform , with the official announcement scheduled for Monday (18).

FAREWELL TO PIXBET

According to UOL journalist Mauro Cezar Pereira, Sportingbet has outbid other major companies in the sector and is in the process of formalizing a contract with Flamengo . The dispute became necessary after Flamengo terminated its relationship with Pixbet, a longtime partner, due to payment delays and issues with government agencies.

The end of the partnership with Pixbet was made official hours before the duel against Internacional for the Libertadores, last Wednesday (13). On that occasion, the team entered the field with the word “thank you” printed above the former sponsor , as a gesture of gratitude for the period of collaboration.

TIGHT COMPETITION

Behind the scenes, Flamengo acted quickly to secure a new partner . The board of directors opened a competition, asking interested companies to submit sealed proposals. Initially, Betano and Superbet emerged as the favorites.

With the entry of other companies, such as Esportes da Sorte, 7K Bet, and Bet Nacional, the competition took on new dimensions. Superbet, which was well-positioned, decided to withdraw after the number of competitors increased . If the deal goes through, Sportingbet will sponsor the two clubs that have excelled in Brazilian football in recent years, deepening the rivalry between them on the national stage.

Argentine midfielder Esequiel Barco has returned to Flamengo's radar . According to information from Italian journalist Marco Mampreso, from the Oggi Sport Notizie portal, the player has already reached an agreement with the Rubro-Negro , with only negotiations with Spartak Moscow, from Russia, remaining.

According to the publication, Flamengo is expected to formalize an offer of €14 million (approximately R$88 million) to try to convince the Russians to release the athlete. Previously, Mengão had offered €10 million, but Spartak promptly rejected the offer.

Barco's name had already been floated behind the scenes at the Rio de Janeiro club when negotiations with Colombian Jorge Carrascal became complicated. However, the possibility faded after the former Dynamo Moscow player's arrival .

FLAMENGO PRIORITIZES A CENTER FORWARD IN THE WINDOW

Despite the interest in Barco , the club's board maintains the signing of a center forward as a priority in this transfer window. The club has not ruled out investing up to €15 million to strengthen its attacking position.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

While the board takes care of the transfer window, coach Filipe Luís is concerned with preparing the team that will take to the field to face Internacional this Sunday (17) at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), for the 20th round of the Brasileirão. Mais Querido is the leader of the competition with 40 points and is looking for a victory to remain isolated in first place.