''I REALIZED MY CHILDREN'S DREAM'', SAYS THIAGO MAIA AFTER PLAYING WITH FLAMENGO

2002 World Cup winner Rivaldo approved of how Xabi Alonso has handled his relationship with Vini Jr. at Real Madrid. In an interview with Betfair, the former player commented on the Spanish coach's decision to leave the Flamengo-born striker on the bench for the second round of La Liga against Real Oviedo .

Rivaldo on Xabi Alonso's action: "It was a strategy to get the best out of Vini Jr"

For Rivaldo, the decision wasn't a punishment, but rather a strategy to boost the number 7's performance: "I don't see it as a punishment. It was a strategy to get the best out of Vinícius . It's a way to make him grow even more ," the five-time world champion emphasized.

FIELD RESPONSE

Alonso's gamble quickly paid off. In the 3-0 victory over Oviedo, Vini Jr. came on in the second half and made his mark. In the following round, he found the net again against Mallorca , confirming his strong start to the season.

Rivaldo also praised the arrival of the new Real Madrid manager and his relationship with the Brazilian: " Xabi is a great coach, but he was also a great player . He knows exactly what someone like Vinícius thinks and feels. Sometimes you have to make adjustments, even with the stars," he concluded.

VINI JR'S PROMISING START

After ending last season below expectations, Vini Jr. started this season on a high note. In three La Liga rounds, he has two goals and one assist, contributing to half of Real Madrid's goals. Without being called up for the FIFA international break , the striker remained in Spain and remains focused on the rest of the season. The Merengues' next match will be on September 13th, against Real Sociedad, away from home, in the fourth round of the Spanish Championship.

Flamengo already knows its next opponent in the Copa Libertadores : Estudiantes de La Plata (ARG), in the quarterfinals. Even before the ball kicked off, the president of the Argentine club and idol Juan Sebastián Verón took to social media to criticize CONMEBOL, following Independiente's exclusion from the Copa Sudamericana.

Estudiantes president Verón on Conmebol: "They chose the easiest option"

"They chose the easy option. It's very difficult to understand how they came to this decision ... and I don't condone any kind of violence, but this is all very unfair," criticized the president of Estudiantes de La Plata .

WHY WAS INDEPENDIENTE ELIMINATED FROM THE SOUTH AMERICANA?

The punishment came after Independiente fans got into a fight with Universidad de Chile supporters. They invaded the visiting team's section, stole banners , threw bombs, and set fire to objects.

Given the seriousness of the case, Conmebol decided to exclude the club from the competition and apply a fine of 250 thousand dollars (approximately R$ 1.3 million) , in addition to a punishment of seven games within Conmebol with closed doors, in addition to another seven as a visitor without the right to fans.

DATES FOR FLAMENGO X ESTUDIANTES IN THE LIBERTADORES

In the quarterfinals, Flamengo and Estudiantes will face off in two decisive matches . The first will be on September 18th at the Maracanã Stadium. The second leg is scheduled for the 25th at the Jorge Luis Hirschi Stadium in La Plata.

Quarterfinal matches

• September 18th – Flamengo vs. Estudiantes – 9:30 p.m. – Maracanã
• 25/09 – Estudiantes x Flamengo – 9:30 pm – Jorge Luis Hirschi
• (Brasília time)

Midfielder Erick Pulgar may be close to returning to Flamengo . Between Thursday (11) and Friday (12), the player will undergo a CT scan to evaluate the fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, suffered at the end of June. The exam will be decisive in defining the stage of recovery and the deadline for returning to the field.

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

The analysis will show the medical department the degree of bone healing . There are two possible scenarios:

• If the fracture heals, Pulgar will begin the final phase of physical reconditioning and transition to the field. He is expected to need about three weeks to regain optimal fitness and be available for Filipe Luís.
• If there is no complete consolidation: conservative treatment will continue, with physiotherapy and strengthening sessions, with no immediate return date.

HOW WAS THE FLEECE INJURY?

The Chilean midfielder was injured on June 29th during Flamengo 's match against Bayern Munich in the Club World Cup. Days later, he underwent surgery in Chile and has since followed a strict recovery protocol.

A starter before his injury, Pulgar has been missing from the squad's rotation. Despite the strong partnership between Saúl and Jorginho, the coaching staff considers the Chilean a key player in maintaining the midfield's competitiveness.