
Soccer
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Champion of the Copa do Brasil 2024, Flamengo is guaranteed in the Libertadores for the ninth consecutive year. In addition to Rubro-Negro, six other Brazilian teams are already guaranteed in next year's edition: Botafogo, Fortaleza, Internacional, Palmeiras and São Paulo.
Because it is positioned in the group of the top four in the Brasileirão, Mengão “opened” an additional place to qualify for the Libertadores. With this, the top three (Palmeiras, Botafogo and Fortaleza), together with the fifth (Internacional), are qualifying for the group stage. Rubro-Negro has already guaranteed its presence through the Copa do Brasil.
São Paulo and Cruzeiro, sixth and seventh placed, respectively, are qualifying for the preliminary stages of the competition. The São Paulo team still has a chance of winning a place in the group stage, but needs to at least surpass Internacional in the table.
The other alternative could come in the event of Botafogo's title in the current edition of the Libertadores, which will be decided against Atlético-MG, on the 30th, in Buenos Aires. If the Rio team wins, another vacancy would arise, opening a G-8.
See the teams already guaranteed in Libertadores 2025
Estudiantes (Argentina)*
Racing (Argentina)*
Palmeiras (Brazil)*
Botafogo (Brazil)*
Flamengo (Brazil)*
< p style="border: 1px solid rgb(197, 0, 24);">Fortaleza (Brazil)
International (Brazil)
São Paulo (Brazil)
San Antonio Bulo Bulo (Bolivia)*
Ñublense (Chile)
Deportes Iquique (Chile )
Universidad de Chile (Chile)*
Colo-Colo (Chile)*
Atlético Bucaramanga (Colombia)*
El Nacional (Ecuador)
Independiente Del Valle (Ecuador)*
Olimpia (Paraguay)*
Libertad (Paraguay)*
Cerro Porteño (Paraguay)
< p style="border: 1px solid rgb(197, 0, 24);">National (Paraguay)
Universitario (Peru)*
Sporting Cristal ( Peru)*
Melgar (Peru)
Alianza Lima (Peru)
Peñarol (Uruguay)*
Nacional (Uruguay)
Boston River (Uruguay)
Carabobo (Venezuela)*
Deportivo Táchira (Venezuela)*
Universidad Central (Venezuela)
Monagas (Venezuela)
* Guaranteed in the group stage
Libertadores 2025 dates
1st phase: February 5th and 12th
2nd phase: February 19th and 26th
3rd phase: March 5th and 12th
Group phase draw: March 19th
Group stage: April 2nd to May 28th
Knockout draw: June 4th
Round of 16: August 13th and 20th
Quarter-finals: September 17th and 24th
Semi-finals: October 22nd and 29th
< p style="border: 1px solid rgb(197, 0, 24);">End: November 29th
The player is on the radar of foreign clubs, but his departure depends on one clear condition: he will only be released in the event of a definitive offer.
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In recent days, a Middle Eastern team approached Flamengo with the intention of loaning Michael , but the Rio de Janeiro club's response was blunt: no . The proposal was rejected by president Luiz Eduardo Baptista, known as BAP, who ruled out any possibility of releasing the striker on loan.
According to journalist Jorge Nicola, Flamengo "is only willing to do business if there are definitive offers." The board believes the striker still has a market and will only leave Ninho do Urubu if concrete financial compensation is received.
Michael, nicknamed "Little Robot" by the fans, has expressed his desire to leave. With limited space under Filipe Luís, the striker was not included in the squad for the last match against Santos and remained in Rio to treat ankle pain. Internally, he has already informed the coaching staff that he prefers to seek new surroundings.
Despite this, Flamengo is being cautious. Michael's contract runs until 2028 and he earns one of the highest salaries in the squad, which limits his options on the market. One of the clubs monitoring the situation is Qatar's Al-Duhail, but no official offer has been submitted yet. The board is treating the situation cautiously. Although the player is considered negotiable, there is no rush to sell him.
Flamengo understands that Michael could be useful throughout the season if no advantageous offers emerge. Therefore, the refusal to loan him is strategic. The ideal scenario for Flamengo is to find a permanent buyer during this window, which would generate revenue and free up space on the payroll. However, with the Asian market still buoyant, the club has not ruled out further inquiries in the coming days.
Another name under the spotlight is Pedro . The number 9 is not having the best time at the club and was left out of the match against Santos after public criticism from coach Filipe Luís. His situation is seen as delicate . Palmeiras was even mentioned as interested, but ruled out any approach due to the game limit in the Brasileirão. Even so, negotiations with foreign clubs are still possible this window.
Evander has a contract with Cincinnati until December 2027, and the North American club stipulated a value of 17 million euros to release him.
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After nearly signing with Flamengo last season, midfielder Evander, currently at FC Cincinnati in the United States, is in Botafogo's sights for the remainder of 2024. According to journalist João Van Boysen, the black and white club is competing for the signing of the 27-year-old player with Benfica in Portugal.
Evander's contract with Cincinnati runs until December 2027, and the North American club has set a fee of €17 million, approximately R$109 million, to release him. It's not yet known whether Botafogo intends to pay or negotiate a lower fee.
Revealed by Vasco, Evander was once in the plans of Flamengo's former management, who saw him as an immediate backup to Arrascaeta. At the time, however, negotiations with Portland Timbers, the club he played for before Cincinnati, ultimately fell through. Now, the midfielder's future is back on the Brazilian football radar.
The Rio de Janeiro club filed a complaint with the FIFA Player Status Resolution Chamber and now the Portuguese have been punished.
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The club filed a complaint with FIFA's Player Status Resolution Chamber. Leixões was supposed to pay the first installment, €175,000 (R$1.1 million), in November 2024. Flamengo demanded payment from the Portuguese club in January but has not received the amount.
The last charge was on January 14, 2025, when Flamengo gave Leixões 48 hours to pay the adjusted amount - 196,700 euros (R$1.2 million). The Portuguese team once again failed to comply with the agreement, and Flamengo went to FIFA to collect the debt, including fines, interest, and monetary correction.
On Tuesday afternoon, Flamengo issued a statement on its official website , informing that FIFA had punished Leixões with a well-deserved transfer ban . This means that the Portuguese club will not be able to register new players.
"Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informs that Leixões SC, from Portugal, was punished by FIFA with a Transfer Ban due to a debt with the Rio de Janeiro club, regarding the transfer of the athlete Werton. The decision of the highest entity of world football recognized Flamengo's request. Leixões will be prevented from registering new players for up to three transfer windows, or until the amount of 175 thousand euros is paid to the red-black club. The sanction comes into effect from this Tuesday (15)."
A highly successful player in Flamengo's youth academy, he was a gem of the club's nest. Werton made his professional debut for Flamengo in 2021, but never received many opportunities. He left the club with one goal in 12 games.