Soccer

Flamengo's Club World Cup rival Chelsea wants to sign Barcelona player

Blues target key Barça player for 2025/26 season and could have major reinforcement before facing Mengão in the United States

Flamengo's opponent in the Club World Cup, Chelsea wants to sign a Barcelona player - Photo: Reproduction
Flamengo's opponent in the Club World Cup, Chelsea wants to sign a Barcelona player - Photo: Reproduction

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Despite the defensive improvement under Enzo Maresca , Chelsea , Flamengo 's opponent in the Club World Cup , intends to strengthen its defensive sector in the next transfer window. The Blues are looking for a high-level defender and already have a defined target: Jules Koundé , from Barcelona. The information is from the Catalan newspaper Sport . While the London club is looking for a defender, Mengão is looking for a backup for Arrascaeta .


The London side currently rotate heavily on the right side of defence, with Benoît Badiashile , Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo taking turns alongside left-footed Levi Colwill . The arrival of Koundé would help to solidify the sector.


The Frenchman, who was a target for Chelsea in 2022 before opting for Barcelona, has been playing as a right-back in Catalonia. Despite excelling in the position, he has publicly expressed his preference for playing as a centre-back , something that could be viable at Stamford Bridge.


Chelsea is banking on two factors to seduce Koundé

Sport points out that Chelsea has a strategy to try to convince the player to swap Camp Nou for the Premier League:


  • Salary increase – Barcelona are facing financial difficulties due to LaLiga’s fair play , which limits their ability to increase their salary. Chelsea, on the other hand, could offer a more financially advantageous contract.
  • More chances as a defender – Although he is also an option at full-back, Koundé would have more space in his original role , as Chelsea have Malo Gusto and Reece James on the right wing.

Despite being aware of the English interest, Barcelona do not intend to facilitate the defender's departure . The club is already negotiating a contract renewal and is looking for a new right-back to ease the burden on Koundé, who has played 45 matches this season, starting 35.

Flamengo x Chelsea in the Club World Cup

With Chelsea in Flamengo 's path in the Club World Cup, the possible arrival of Koundé could make the challenge even more complicated for Rubro-Negro. In Group C of the competition, Mengão will also face Esperance de Tunis and an opponent yet to be defined, after León, from Mexico, was excluded from the tournament.



Soccer

Journalist reveals salary that Michael Johnston would receive at Flamengo - check it out

The player had also already agreed on the length of his contract with Mais Querido; internal pressures made Rubro-Negro give up on the negotiation

Michael Johnston had also already agreed on the length of his contract with Flamengo (Reproduction/ Instagram)
Michael Johnston had also already agreed on the length of his contract with Flamengo (Reproduction/ Instagram)

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The leak of Flamengo's negotiations for Michael Johnston caused the club to give up on signing the striker , as fans of the Mais Querido revolted and put pressure on the board. After the negotiations ended, some details were revealed, such as the salary the player would have received if he had signed with Rubro-Negro: R$8.4 million per year.


SALARY THAT JOHNSTON WOULD RECEIVE AT FLAMENGO


According to information from journalist Venê Casagrande, Michael would have a salary of R$646 thousand per month at Flamengo . The Irishman would also sign a contract valid for four years, that is, until July 2029. Mais Querido would pay around 5 million pounds (R$37 million) to West Bromwich (ENG).


PLAYER HAS ALREADY BEEN INFORMED ABOUT THE WITHDRAWAL

According to GE, Michael Johnston has already been informed about Flamengo's withdrawal and will no longer land in Rio de Janeiro this Tuesday (8). The player would arrive at the club to be an option to Filipe Luís and compete for a spot with Michael and Everton Cebolinha.


To justify the withdrawal, according to information from journalist Venê Casagrande, Flamengo alleges the athlete's history of injuries. The player underwent knee surgery and suffered a spinal injury. Thus, the club's medical department was unsure whether the striker would be able to handle the Brazilian calendar.

ABOUT THAT...

Thus, after Flamengo's withdrawal from signing Michael Johnston, coach Filipe Luís continues to look for a new striker. Meanwhile, the coach continues to prepare Flamengo's squad for the season's commitments. The Mais Querido returns to the field on Saturday (12), in a match valid for the Brasileirão, against São Paulo.


Soccer

Filipe Luís has issues to resolve at Flamengo when the Brasileirão returns

Coach will have to find alternatives amid injuries and departures from the squad to put together the team that will take the field against São Paulo in the Brazilian Championship

Filipe Luís will have to find solutions at Flamengo amid departures and injuries - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo
Filipe Luís will have to find solutions at Flamengo amid departures and injuries - Photo: Gilvan de Souza/Flamengo

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Amid a turbulent scenario behind the scenes , Flamengo continues its preparations to face São Paulo , next Saturday (12), for the Brazilian Championship. Even with the pressures and recent changes, coach Filipe Luís remains focused and has three fundamental decisions to make in the coming days.


1. DEFINE GERSON'S SUBSTITUTE


With Gerson leaving for Zenit (Russia), Filipe Luís needs to find a new name to fill the midfielder's spot , who was an absolute starter. Versatile, Gerson played both as a second midfielder and as a right winger, which increases the complexity of the choice. The red-and-black coach will have to evaluate which tactical profile best fits the team's current situation.


2. CHOOSE THE NEW CAPTAIN

The captain's armband is also vacant. Among the main candidates are Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique , players with more time at the club and a prominent role in the squad. However, names like Danilo and Rossi, recognized for their leadership on a day-to-day basis, also appear as viable options.


3. FIND A NEW FIRST STEERING WHEEL

In addition to Gerson, Flamengo also lost Pulgar, who underwent foot surgery and will be out for a few months. For the first midfielder position, Jorginho is the favorite — the player has even said he feels comfortable playing as a "number 5". Other options include Allan, Evertton Araújo and the young Pablo Lúcio, who worked with Filipe Luís in the youth team and could earn a place in the main squad.

FLAMENGO'S NEXT GAME

Flamengo returns to the field on Saturday (12), at 4:30 pm (Brasília time), against São Paulo, at Maracanã, for the 13th round of the Brasileirão. The match will be broadcast live on Rede Globo (open TV) and Premiere (pay-per-view) . Rubro-Negro leads the competition with 24 points, the same score as Cruzeiro, but with an advantage in goal difference (20 to 9) and with one game less than its rival from Minas Gerais.



Soccer

Fluminense vs Chelsea: where to watch live and time - Club World Cup semi-final

The Laranjeiras team takes to the field on Tuesday afternoon (8), for the decisive clash against the English team, valid for the FIFA tournament

Fluminense takes to the field on Tuesday afternoon (8), for the decisive clash against Chelsea, valid for the Club World Cup (Reproduction/Fluminense)
Fluminense takes to the field on Tuesday afternoon (8), for the decisive clash against Chelsea, valid for the Club World Cup (Reproduction/Fluminense)

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While Flamengo remains focused on the return of the Brasileirão , Fluminense is preparing to enter the field in another decisive clash. The team from Laranjeiras faces Chelsea this Tuesday (8), at 4 pm (Brasília time), in the semi-final of the Club World Cup. See below where to watch live.


WHERE TO WATCH FLUMINENSE X CHELSEA LIVE


Fluminense has surprised everyone in the Club World Cup. After barely making it to the knockout stage, the tricolor team has put in some great performances, beating Inter Milan and Al-Hilal, thus reaching the semifinals of the tournament. Chelsea is also having a great competition and eliminated Palmeiras in the quarterfinals , by a score of 2 to 1.


Therefore, fans who want to follow another Club World Cup final will have four options. This is because the match between Fluminense and Chelsea will be broadcast live throughout Brazil via TV Globo (open channel), SporTV (closed channel), Cazé TV (YouTube) and DAZN.

PROBABLE LINEUPS


Fluminense: Fabio, Ignacio, Thiago Silva and Renê; Guga (Samuel Xavier), Bernal, Nonato, Hercules and Fuentes; Arias and Cano.

Chelsea: Robert Sánchez; Malo Gusto, Chalobah, Adarabioyo and Cucurella; Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández; Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer and Nkunku; João Pedro (Nicolas Jackson).


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