“We know about…” - Ceará midfielder predicts duel against Flamengo

Fortaleza announced this Friday (1st) the amicable termination of the contract with defender David Luiz , who will now continue his career at Pafos FC , a team in the first division of Cyprus. The defender had signed with the Ceará club at the beginning of 2024, after ending his stint at Flamengo.

EXIT FROM FORTALEZA

His departure comes after just 16 appearances for the Tricolor, 13 of which he started . His last appearance was on June 12th, in a 3-2 loss to Santos in the 12th round of the Brazilian Championship. On that occasion, David Luiz played the full 90 minutes.

His brief time at Fortaleza was marked by recurring physical problems , which, while not serious, prevented him from playing regularly. Even so, the 38-year-old opted to waive the remaining balance of his contract, which ran until the end of 2026, to accept the Cypriot football club's offer. His contract with Pafos FC will last three seasons.

CAREER AND ACHIEVEMENTS

With his move to Cyprus, David Luiz now has eight clubs in his career: Vitória, Benfica, Chelsea, PSG, Arsenal, Flamengo, Fortaleza and, now, Pafos. For Flamengo , the club he defended between 2021 and 2024, the defender played 132 matches , scored four goals and provided two assists. He won the Libertadores (2022), the Copa do Brasil (2022 and 2024) and the Campeonato Carioca (2024).

AND FLAMENGO?

While David Luiz will make his return to European football, Flamengo is preparing for the clash with Ceará in the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship . The duel will be this Sunday (3) at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) at Arena Castelão. Mengão needs the victory to remain at the top of the competition without having to worry about its pursuers.

Matheus Gonçalves' fate is still up in the air. The young Flamengo player is in advanced negotiations with CSKA Moscow in Russia, but two other foreign teams have also expressed interest in signing him .

The information was released by journalist Gabriel Reis, from the Paparazzo Rubro-Negro channel. According to him, an intermediary involved in the negotiations with CSKA confirmed that two other clubs are in the running —one from the United Arab Emirates and another from Europe, but without participation in the continent's major leagues, a profile similar to that of the Russian club.

NEGOTIATIONS STILL IN PROGRESS

So far, no official proposals have been sent to Flamengo by these two competitors, and they may formalize their interest. However, offers are expected to be formalized in the coming days, with values similar to those presented by CSKA .

The main difference lies in the percentages of economic rights. Flamengo is considering whether it prefers to secure a larger sum upfront or a higher percentage in a future sale , which could directly influence the player's future.

HIGHLIGHT AGAINST ATLÉTICO-MG SPARKED INTEREST

Matheus Gonçalves was already being watched by the international market , but his strong performance as a starter against Atlético-MG in the first leg of the Copa do Brasil round of 16 increased the interest of foreign clubs. The youngster's performance increased his chances of being traded this summer.

Despite praise from coach Filipe Luís, the player has received little playing time on the main squad . Therefore, on several occasions, he has requested to play for the U-20 team in search of match fitness. Now, Matheus could be rewarded with a transfer to a team where he has more opportunities to play.

Officially presented this Friday (1), striker Samuel Lino gave his first press conference as a Flamengo player. One day after making his debut in the red and black shirt, the number 16 made a point of highlighting that returning to Brazilian football does not represent a setback in his career — on the contrary .

During his conversation with reporters, Lino revealed that he had spoken with Corinthians striker Memphis Depay while on vacation in Brazil. According to him, even the Dutchman was impressed by the progress of Brazilian football .

Flamengo's Samuel Lino spoke with a Corinthians player: "I met Memphis on vacation"

"About a month ago, I said to my mother: 'Imagine me going back to Brazil, closer to my family.' I never thought about my age. The Brazilian market has grown a lot, and the World Cup showed that . I played against Botafogo in the last round [for Atlético Madrid] and they gave us a hard time. They also have a lot of quality. Football in Brazil is experiencing enormous growth. I met Memphis while on vacation in São Paulo and he commented on the development of the structure and the level of play here," said the striker.

OBJECTIVE: TROPHIES AND THE BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM

At 25, Samuel Lino has played in the Champions League and six seasons in European football. Despite his success on the Old Continent, he didn't hesitate to accept Flamengo's project , aiming for titles and a spot in the 2026 World Cup with the Brazilian national team.

"When Flamengo 's interest came up, I never thought, 'I'm young, I have to stay in Europe.' I always told my agent: Flamengo is a huge club in Brazil . If it were European, it would still fight for titles. When the project is good and will help you grow, showcase your skills, and do what you love, there's no such thing as age," he added.

WHO HAS ALREADY ARRIVED AT FLAMENGO?

In addition to Samuel Lino, Flamengo has already finalized the signings of Saúl Ñíguez, Emerson Royal, and Jorge Carrascal —a deal still awaiting official announcement. The club is also still in the market and is in talks with Fiorentina for striker Lucas Beltrán.

NEXT APPOINTMENT

Flamengo returns to the field this Sunday (03), at 6:30 pm, to face Ceará at Arena Castelão, for the 18th round of the Brazilian Championship . The match will be broadcast on the Premiere channel (pay-per-view), Record and Cazé TV.