RED-BLACK WALL! VARELA COMPLETES FLAMENGO'S 2-0 VICTORY AGAINST CORINTHIANS AT MARACANÃ

The CBF announced Carlo Ancelotti , but Ednaldo Rodrigues is still not breathing a sigh of relief. Today, his biggest headache is not in defining the direction of the national team, but in the expectation of how the Justice will respond regarding the future of his term at the head of the entity.

Confirming the new coach of the national team reduces an important element of pressure on the CBF. There were more than 40 days of uncertainty and a soap opera that seemed to run over the plans for calling up players for the Qualifying games. Not to mention parallel issues, such as the color of the national team's shirt for the 2026 World Cup.

AND NOW

The CBF 's sure shot, however, does not serve to calm Ednaldo's opponents . Another request for the removal of the CBF president is before the Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice. This situation worries Ednaldo and his supporters. Those around the president see him as tired and worn out by the political dispute.

Expectation

They know that from now on a decision could be made that would remove the leader from power — as already happened in 2023. And, at the very least, force yet another political dispute involving resources in Brasília . The trigger for the confusion is one of the signatures on an agreement that would initially appease the fight over Ednaldo's election in 2022. Was it really Colonel Nunes who signed the document, alongside other former CBF leaders? The courts have not yet received an answer.

The hearing scheduled for yesterday was canceled because Colonel Nunes' daughter told the lawyer in the case that the former president is not feeling well. In fact, he had gone to São Paulo for a clinical evaluation at the Albert Einstein Hospital.

END OF EXILE

Soon after, another request came to the courts from one of the vice-presidents, Fernando Sarney, to have Ednaldo removed. Sarney, who is coming to Rio today, wants to be appointed as the CBF's interventor, after Ednaldo's eventual removal.

Provoked, Judge Gabriel Zefiro, the rapporteur of the case at the TJ-RJ , should speak out soon. That is why there is an air of suspense in the corridors of the CBF and in the opposition circle.

Ednaldo is also the target of complaints at the Brazilian Football Ethics Committee . But the expectation there is calmer, due to the political and financial ties with the CBF — although the body, in theory, is independent. It was the ethics committee that removed Rogério Caboclo , for example. But because there was a political context that brought to light the case of harassment carried out by the then president of the CBF against a secretary.

Now, the political will to overthrow Ednaldo (still) is external to the CBF . Although Sarney still has a mandate and is one of the VPs of the current administration. But he lives in "exile" in Maranhão. Or rather, he used to live.

The possibility of Neymar wearing the Flamengo jersey has been gaining traction behind the scenes again this week. With a contract with Santos until the end of June, the star player, who is still recovering from a serious injury , has reportedly been offered to the Rubro-Negro. According to information from journalist Jorge Nicola, the player's representatives are arranging a meeting in Rio de Janeiro with football director José Boto and Filipe Luís, currently on the coaching staff.

According to Nicola, the idea behind Neymar 's transfer would be to make it possible for him to join Santos immediately after his contract with Santos ends . The goal would be to integrate him into the team in time to compete in the Club World Cup. The move has the support of important names in the red-and-black team, such as Alex Sandro and Danilo, who are all positive about the arrival of the number 10.

JOSÉ BOTO ACCEPTS OLD CONSULTATION

According to the journalist, José Boto confirmed that Neymar's name was mentioned at the beginning of the year in an internal suggestion , but denied any recent negotiations. A favorable point for the move would be the fact that the athlete has participated in only two matches in the Brazilian Championship , which would make him eligible to defend another club in the same competition.

Rubro-Negro even considered signing Neymar before his return to Santos , but negotiations did not progress at the time. Now, with the end of his contract approaching and the athlete getting closer to physical recovery, the player's name is back on the radar, albeit in a speculative way.

NEYMAR COULD RETURN TO THE PITCH SOON

While the future remains uncertain, Neymar is expected to accompany the Santos delegation to Maceió , where the team will face CRB on the 22nd in the Copa do Brasil. The expectation is that the player will play for at least a while, marking his return after the physical transition process.

José Boto , Flamengo's new football director, has started analyzing options on the market to strengthen the club's offensive sector. Among the names being considered is striker Roberto Firmino, currently at Al-Ahli in Saudi Arabia. The player has received a positive evaluation from the board, but the negotiation depends on complex financial factors. The Saudi club has set a minimum value of 7 million euros (around R$44.7 million) to release the athlete, an amount that represents a challenge for the Rubro-Negro's coffers.

One of the main obstacles to completing the signing is Firmino 's monthly salary, which is currently around R$10 million per month — an amount considered unrealistic for Brazilian clubs. Despite this, the athlete has reportedly shown openness to financial readjustment if he returns to Brazilian football. Even with this indication, the high total cost of the operation continues to be analyzed with caution.

FIRMINO IS CONSECRATED IN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL

With notable spells at European clubs and with the Brazilian national team, Roberto Firmino built a distinguished career. Throughout his career, he has played 606 official matches, scored 183 goals and provided 121 assists. The player has participated in World Cups and is remembered for his technique, versatility and vision of the game, characteristics that please the red-and-black coaching staff.

Al-Ahli's position is clear: there is no intention of an amicable release. In order to move forward with the negotiations, it will be necessary to meet the imposed financial requirements . The Rio de Janeiro club's board of directors continues to evaluate possibilities and scenarios, remaining cautious in light of the movement in the international market.

FOCUS ON THE LIBERTADORES

While negotiations remain in their early stages, Flamengo is focusing on the challenges of the season . This Thursday (15), the team will face LDU de Quito at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm, in a decisive match for the group stage of the Copa Libertadores.