REFORMULATION IN THE FLAMENGO CAST: MORE DEPARTURES THAN ARRIVALS MARK THE BEGINNING OF THE 2024 SEASON

Matheus Gonçalves' future is still uncertain , but for now, the youngster remains at Ninho do Urubu. According to journalist Venê Casagrande, Cruzeiro is ruling out another attempt to sign him. The Minas Gerais team was very close to closing a deal, but the transfer is unlikely to happen.

FLA BREACHED AGREEMENT

Cruzeiro's board claims that Flamengo failed to honor a previous agreement and remains dissatisfied with the negative outcome of negotiations in July . Despite this, it denies any new attempts and emphasizes that it is not insisting on buying the player.

Matheus Gonçalves on his future at Flamengo: "I'm fully capable of helping"

According to reports, Cruzeiro was angered by the "broken promise," as Matheus's sale had been agreed upon , but Flamengo backed out of the deal at the last minute. The player himself had wanted to move to Belo Horizonte and only learned the deal had been canceled moments before taking the field for a youth team match.

Surprised, Matheus had to adapt quickly to the new situation and adopted a conciliatory tone: "If Flamengo doesn't want to sell me, I'll work to earn my place . I've been here since I was 12, happy. I'm fully capable of helping Filipe Luís for the rest of the season," he stated.

LITTLE SPACE IN 2025

This season, the 19-year-old forward has played 15 matches and scored two goals for the professional team, both in the State Championship, totaling 371 minutes of play . He also played two more matches and scored three goals for the Brazilian U-20 Championship. With few opportunities under Filipe Luís, Matheus has also seen the also young Wallace Yan gain more playing time: he has already played 28 matches, scored eight goals, scored four assists, and played 998 minutes this season.

Flamengo started the round of 16 of the Libertadores with a victory . Last Wednesday (13), at Maracanã, Rubro-Negro beat Internacional 1-0, with a goal from Bruno Henrique, and started with an advantage in the continental knockout stage. With no time to rest, the squad will return this Thursday (14), at 3:30 pm (Brasília time) , at Ninho do Urubu, to begin preparations for a new meeting with the team from Rio Grande do Sul, now for the Brasileirão.

HOW WAS THE VICTORY IN THE LIBERTADORES?

Internacional's defense held out until the 27th minute of the first half. From a corner kick by Luiz Araújo, Bruno Henrique rose above his defender and headed the ball firmly into Rochet's net, securing the 1-0 lead and the lead for the second leg.

NEXT CHALLENGE

Flamengo and Internacional face each other again on Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm, at Beira-Rio Stadium, for the 20th round of the Brazilian Championship. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 40 points , three ahead of the vice-leader Cruzeiro, but with one game less than the Minas Gerais club.

DECISION IN THE LIBERTADORES

The second leg of the round of 16 will be on Wednesday (20), also at Beira-Rio, at 9:30 pm . With the result of the first game, Flamengo advances to the quarterfinals in case of a draw. The duel will be broadcast by Rede Globo (open TV), ESPN (closed TV) and Disney+ (streaming).

LOGISTICS

With two consecutive matches against Internacional away from home, for the Brasileirão and the Copa Libertadores, the red-black delegation leaves for Porto Alegre on Saturday afternoon (16) and will remain in the city between the two matches, without returning to Rio de Janeiro.

Flamengo beat Internacional 1-0 last Wednesday (13), in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Libertadores. After the match, Guillermo Varela revealed, in the mixed zone of Maracanã, when he should sign the contract renewal with the club .

When approached by reporters, the right-back was blunt: " This week, this week ," he quickly replied before leaving the venue. The agreement between Flamengo and Varela has been in place for months, but the club is awaiting the player's agent's trip to Rio de Janeiro to sign the new contract.

RENEWAL STATUS

Negotiations for Varela's stay have been underway at Flamengo since the beginning of the year. In March, shortly after renewing with Erick Pulgar, the club identified the Uruguayan as its next target, but negotiations did not progress immediately.

Now, according to the player himself, the signing is expected to take place this week. Currently, the number 2's contract runs until December, with about four months remaining on his contract . Although he can sign a pre-contract with any team, the full-back's intention has always been to renew with Flamengo .

PROBABLE STARTER IN THE NEXT GAME

With Emerson Royal injured due to a left ankle sprain, Varela is expected to be the immediate replacement at right back and start in the next match. Expectations are high for the length of the number 22's absence, which could force the Uruguayan into a long run as a starter.

WHEN IS THE NEXT GAME

Flamengo and Internacional will face each other again this Sunday (17), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Beira-Rio Stadium, for the 20th round of the Brasileirão. Mengão is the leader of the Brasileirão with 40 points . The Mais Querido will face each other again for the third time in a row next Wednesday (20), for the second leg of the Libertadores.