Close to leaving Flamengo, defender laments Filipe Luís' departure

Atlético-MG has already begun planning for the 2026 season . The coaching staff, together with the board and football partners, is evaluating the current roster composition and the necessary adjustments for next year. The goal is to identify strategic positions for reinforcements and organize the group efficiently for competition.

According to press reports, newly hired coach Jorge Sampaoli made two requests to Atlético-MG's board to strengthen the squad in 2026 : midfielder Allan , currently at Flamengo, and striker Gabigol, who plays for Cruzeiro. The information comes from columnist Fabrício Lopes, from the newspaper O Dia and the channel Resenha Rubro-Negra.

ALLAN HAD A SPOTLIGHT AT ATLÉTICO

Allan enjoyed his best spell at Atlético-MG in 2020, working with Sampaoli and establishing himself as a regular starter. The midfielder reunited with the coach at Flamengo in 2024. His departure from the Minas Gerais club, however, drew criticism from fans, and controversial interviews upon his arrival in Rio de Janeiro fueled discontent among Atlético-MG fans.

RENEWAL DEFENDED BY FILIPE LUÍS

The possibility of Allan's signing by Atlético-MG will depend on negotiations and the amount involved. Coach Filipe Luís, Flamengo 's current manager, is counting on the midfielder for the remainder of the season and is advocating for his renewal. This information is also from the O Dia website, but has not been confirmed by Gazeta do Urubu.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT COMMITMENT

Mengão's next match will be against Cruzeiro, on Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã. The duel pits the top two teams in the competition against each other. The match marks the reunion with Gabigol in Rio de Janeiro.

Atlético-MG recently announced the arrival of coach Jorge Sampaoli and, despite having been at the club for a short time , the Argentine has already indicated a big name to reinforce the squad in 2026. According to information from columnist Fabrício Lopes, from the newspaper O Dia, Sampaoli would have asked the black and white board to sign Gabigol, currently at Cruzeiro.

Gabigol is in his first season with Cruzeiro after leaving Flamengo at the end of 2024. The striker's contract runs until December 2028 and, according to Transfermarkt, is valued at around €5 million (approximately R$31 million at the current exchange rate). So far, the number 9 has played 36 matches, 18 as a starter, scoring 12 goals and providing four assists.

CORINTHIANS HAD ALREADY SHOWN INTEREST

Before Atlético-MG's move, Corinthians emerged as a strong candidate to sign Gabigol. Under Augusto Melo's management, the striker was considered a major reinforcement , considered more financially advantageous than international names like Memphis Depay. The Corinthians board also saw the Brazilian as a potential new idol for the club.

CRUZEIRO ASSESSES TRANSFER

Despite the excitement surrounding his free transfer to Cruzeiro, Gabigol has yet to replicate his prominence at Flamengo. Although he's not a regular starter, he's already played 35 games, scored 12 goals, and provided four assists for Raposa . Recently, the striker himself expressed his dissatisfaction with his lack of playing time. "I'm looking for minutes, he (Leonardo Jardim) knows that," he declared after scoring against Bahia.

GABIGOL TRIES TO RECONSTRUCT CAREER

Flamengo idol Gabigol left Rio de Janeiro at the end of 2024, after losing his place in the Flamengo squad . Even so, his name is etched in the club's history for decisive goals, especially in the 2019 and 2022 Copa Libertadores victories. Now in Belo Horizonte, the striker seeks to rebuild his trajectory and return to the national stage.

Flamengo demonstrated its power to comeback by defeating Corinthians 2-1 this Sunday at Neo Química Arena. After a dominated first half, the Red-Blacks came back stronger in the second half and secured the comeback. Carrascal had a standout performance, providing two assists—one for Arrascaeta and another for Luiz Araújo—and leading the comeback in São Paulo.

After the match, the red-and-black manager highlighted Carrascal's progress in recent weeks. According to him, the midfielder has been trained in a new role, which has increased his contribution to the team. " His performance is impressive. He gives the team freedom, cleans up plays, has excellent vision, and connects with his teammates . Today he also provided two assists," he stated.

The coach also highlighted the Colombian's physical effort in the role. " He had to run more than he's used to, and he did it with dedication. Even though he had cramps at the end , he showed he can adapt well to the position. I'm very happy with his and the group's performance," he added after the match against Corinthians .

FLAMENGO EXTENDS ADVANTAGE

With the result, Flamengo reached 54 points and extended its lead in the Brazilian Championship. The round was considered perfect for Flamengo, as Cruzeiro, second with 51 points, and Palmeiras, third with 49, both stumbled.

REUNION WITH IDOL

Flamengo 's next match will be against Cruzeiro, on Thursday (2), at 8:30 pm, at Maracanã. The duel pits the top two teams in the competition against each other . The match marks the reunion with Gabigol in Rio de Janeiro.