Rio de Janeiro Mayor Reveals Negotiations to Host NFL Game at Maracanã in 2026

This Wednesday (13), Flamengo returns to the field to compete in the Copa Libertadores da América . The opponent will be Internacional, at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) , in a duel valid for the first leg of the round of 16 of the competition at Maracanã.

FLAMENGO'S SHORTAGES

Coach Filipe Luís will be without three players : Erick Pulgar, who is recovering from surgery on his right foot; Danilo, who is undergoing treatment for a right thigh injury; and Arrascaeta , who is suspended due to a backlog of yellow cards . Additionally, there is doubt about the participation of De La Cruz, who is treating a left knee problem and will be re-evaluated before the match.

REINFORCEMENTS AVAILABLE

Just like in the Copa do Brasil, Flamengo will have the recently registered players for the Libertadores at their disposal : Saúl Ñíguez, Emerson Royal, Samuel Lino, and Jorge Carrascal. All are eligible to wear the Sacred Mantle at this stage of the tournament.

INTERNACIONAL'S MISSING STAFF

Internacional also arrives with a weakened squad . The team from Rio Grande do Sul will be without Mercado (right calf injury), Carbonero (left thigh injury), Ivan (left knee arthroscopy), Bruno Gomes (left knee surgery) and Lucca Drummond (right knee surgery).

PROBABLE LINEUP

Without being able to count on the number 10 and still without important pieces in the midfield and defense, coach Filipe Luís must send onto the field a Flamengo with : Rossi; Varela (Emerson Royal), Léo Ortiz, Léo Pereira, Alex Sandro; Allan, Jorginho, Plata; Luiz Araújo, Samuel Lino and Pedro.

Flamengo continues to monitor the situation of Lazio (ITA) striker Taty Castellanos . After failing to make progress in negotiations for Mehdi Taremi and Lucas Beltrán, the club is once again targeting the Argentine, despite facing resistance from the Italian club. According to Corriere dello Sport, Flamengo "would be ready" to present a new offer for Castellanos . The first attempt was made in July, but was promptly rejected by Lazio, which maintains its stance of not negotiating with him.

TRANSFER BAN MAKES BUSINESS DIFFICULT

The impasse is directly linked to the punishment suffered by Lazio , which received a transfer ban for failing to comply with Italian football's financial requirements . As a result, the club is prohibited from registering new players until September, which prevents replacements in the event of departures.

Castellanos, who played 40 games last season and 46 the previous season, is considered an important player in the squad. That's why president Claudio Lotito promised coach Maurizio Sarri that there would be no more losses in the squad , a promise reinforced by sporting director Angelo Fabiani: " I shook the coach's hand twice ," he told the Italian newspaper.

PLAYER ATTITUDE

According to the publication, Lazio evaluated Castellanos' behavior during a trip to England for a friendly against Burnley. The striker came on for the final 30 minutes, maintained a calm demeanor, and expressed no desire to leave the club , which strengthened the board's confidence in his continued presence.

SEARCH FOR A CENTER FORWARD DIFFERENT FROM PEDRO

Flamengo is looking for a center forward with different characteristics than Pedro in the market. The goal is to find a more mobile player capable of offering new attacking options. Therefore, names like Taremi, Beltrán, and Castellanos have been on the radar—without success so far.

While working behind the scenes, Rubro-Negro is preparing to face Internacional this Wednesday (13) , at Maracanã, at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), for the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. The return leg is scheduled for next week.

Cruzeiro remains interested in signing Matheus Gonçalves and believes it can close the deal. The deal was practically finalized but was canceled at the last minute—the player even learned of the move on the sidelines after a youth team match.

Now, the Minas Gerais club is back in the hunt to convince Flamengo to release the young attacking midfielder. According to Goal, Cruzeiro's vice president of football, Pedro Junio, is in contact with the player's staff , seeking a solution that will please all parties.

FLAMENGO DOES NOT INTEND TO NEGOTIATE

Currently, Cruzeiro is resisting the idea of selling the player directly to a competitor in the Brasileirão, a position supported by part of the board. Meanwhile, CSKA Moscow of Russia has also expressed interest but has not yet formalized an official offer. Matheus Gonçalves, however, wants to play for Cruzeiro , believing that at the Minas Gerais club he will get more minutes on the field and a chance to compete for a starting spot.

THE CRUISE PROPOSAL

Cruzeiro's initial offer was €3.5 million (approximately R$22 million) for 50% of the player's economic rights . Flamengo would retain half of his transfer rights, aiming for a profit in any future negotiations. The impasse occurred in July, when the deal was finally finalized and Matheus Gonçalves was very close to leaving Ninho do Urubu.

FOCUS ON THE LIBERTADORES

While Matheus Gonçalves waits to know his future, Flamengo prepares for the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 against Internacional at Maracanã. The match is this Wednesday (13) at 9:30 pm (Brasília time) and will be broadcast on Rede Globo, ESPN and Disney+.