Saúl reveals 'madness' to be able to be on the field in the game between Flamengo and Juventude

After ending his professional career, Diego Ribas, former Flamengo midfielder , remains engaged in social causes. This Monday (15), he participated in an action promoted by Comlurb, working as a street cleaner for a day . The objective of the initiative was to raise awareness among the population about the importance of urban cleaning and environmental preservation.

During the experience, Diego Ribas wore the municipal company's orange uniform and shared images of the moment on his social media. In the video, he emphasized the importance of recognizing the work of the professionals who work daily to maintain the city's streets and beaches. " Today, I'll truly experience the world of street cleaners, together with the Comlurb team ," said the former player.

FORMER FLAMENGO PLAYER

During the event, Diego drew attention to the significant amount of trash collected on Rio de Janeiro's beaches. " More than 50,000 tons of trash were collected from Rio's beaches last summer, including 3,000 tons from Barra Beach alone, exactly where I participated in this experiment ," he said.

The former midfielder emphasized the importance of educating the public about proper waste disposal. " It was amazing to understand the effort these people make every day; we collect everything. There's always the option of throwing trash in the trash, but we'll do it differently next summer," he added.

DIEGO RIBAS' VICTORIOUS TRAJECTORY

Diego Ribas built a remarkable career at Flamengo between 2016 and 2022. During that time, he played approximately 263 official matches and scored approximately 42 goals . His performance in midfield was decisive during one of the most successful periods in the club's recent history.

Jorge Carrascal completed, this Sunday (14), his fourth match with the Flamengo shirt. In the red-black triumph over Juventude, the Colombian midfielder demonstrated evolution , greater intensity and active participation in the game. Even playing for only 12 minutes, he managed to make the most of the opportunities.

During his brief time on the field, Carrascal provided a decisive assist and created another clear scoring chance. He also stood out for his accuracy: he completed nine of his 11 attempted passes , directly contributing to the team's offensive performance. His performance drew attention for his directness and agility in executing plays.

CARRASCAL NUMBERS SHOW RESISTANCE

In addition to his passes and assists, Carrascal won three of the four individual duels , demonstrating physical fitness and competitiveness. He also excelled at dribbling, completing 100% of his attempts. These indicators reinforce the Colombian's growing confidence in Filipe Luís's squad.

According to Sofascore data, the midfielder received a rating of 7.4, his highest since joining the club. Consistent performance increases his chances of earning more minutes and a starting role in the coming rounds.

FLAMENGO PREPARES FOR THE LIBERTADORES

After the victory over Juventude, Flamengo turns its focus to the Copa Libertadores. The team faces Estudiantes, from Argentina, on Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the first game of the quarterfinals .

Flamengo's executive director of football, José Boto , spoke publicly for the first time about the controversy surrounding Pedro after the Club World Cup. The Portuguese director denied that the club had any intention of negotiating the number 9 , despite a leaked screenshot from a member of the football department suggesting otherwise.

In an interview with "UOL," Boto revealed that Flamengo rejected an offer of approximately $18 million from Qatar for the striker. He also said that the entire controversy helped Pedro dedicate himself more to training:

"There was never any intention to sell. It was a time when Pedro wasn't being used. But there was no intention to sell for any price other than what we knew Pedro was worth. Everything was done to ensure he achieved the performance he delivers to the team today. We are very pleased with this performance," the director stated.

INTERNAL CRITICISM AND ATTACKER'S REACTION

Pedro's situation was further debated after Filipe Luís publicly criticized the player's performance in training. At the time, the striker and his staff considered leaving Flamengo . However, Pedro met with the squad, acknowledged his declining performance, and turned things around, regaining his starting spot.

JOSÉ BOTO HIGHLIGHTS PEDRO'S EVOLUTION

For Boto, the episode had a positive impact on the number 9's recent trajectory. " The most important thing is that everything that was said, everything that was said, everything that was made public about Pedro, resulted in a different Pedro. A Pedro who helps Flamengo a lot and helps himself grow as a player. Everything else is normal stuff that happens at clubs," the director assessed.