Soccer
Training session defines Flamengo's starting lineup against Estudiantes in the Copa Libertadores
17 Set 2025 | 08:01
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Soccer
02 Jun 2025 | 15:46 |
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Sesc RJ Flamengo began preparations for the 2025/2026 season this Monday (02) . The team, led by Bernardinho, returned to activities at the Army Physical Education School (EsEFEx), located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The return, still without the full squad, marks the beginning of a new cycle with strategic reinforcements and a bet on the technical growth of each player.
Among the main reinforcements are the setters Giovana , 30 years old, and Vivian , 25 years old, as well as the opposite Tainara , also 25 years old. The American spiker Simone Lee , 28 years old, and the Serbian middle blocker Masa Kirov , 19 years old, will be playing their first season in Brazilian volleyball.
According to Bernardinho, the arrival of the foreigners will be at different times, respecting the competition calendar of their countries . The gradual integration of the athletes is part of the technical strategy to strengthen the group.
In addition to the reinforcements, the club kept ten players who were part of last season. Clara, Camila Mesquita, Helena, Karina, Mikaela, Lorena, Juju, Adria, Laís and Victoria remain on the roster. The continuity of these athletes is seen as essential to ensure harmony and consolidate the team's identity on the court. Some of them, such as Helena, Lorena, Laís and Tainara , are playing for the Brazilian national team in the Nations League.
For Bernardinho, the combination of youth and international experience could be decisive. The coach highlighted the return of Giovana, champion of the last Superliga for Osasco, and the versatility of Tainara . He also praised the enthusiasm of Simone Lee and the potential of Masa Kirov, who will play in the U-21 World Cup. “We really believe in this group. We have players with different characteristics, which will expand the possibilities of the game”, said the coach.
The Rio de Janeiro club has a history of impressive achievements, with twelve titles in the Women's Super League . The sports project, consolidated for decades, is now betting on a new generation joined by experienced names to try to extend this hegemony. Mengão do vôlei, as it is affectionately called by its fans, wants to once again show its strength on the courts throughout 2025 and 2026.
The current coach is always compared to the Portuguese who was his commander at Mengão and the 'Mister' believes in a promising future
17 Set 2025 | 09:13 |
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Coach Filipe Luís has been frequently associated with Jorge Jesus . This Tuesday (16), the current Al Nassr commander made a point of publicly praising his Brazilian compatriot in an interview with Canal Goat . According to the Portuguese, the relationship between the two goes beyond the field, marked by friendship, gratitude and a constant exchange of ideas about football.
Jorge Jesus on Flamengo's Filipe Luís: "I really believe in his growth"
"Besides being a friend, he's a grateful person, and there are people in football who forget things very easily. We continue to talk a lot. He's a coach just starting his career and has absorbed the knowledge of my way of working , and I strongly believe in his growth," said Jorge Jesus.
The Portuguese also highlighted Filipe Luís's personality and promising future: " He's learning; our early years are like that, just like mine . Now, I know he has a bright future; he will. He's a great friend. Filipe is a grateful friend, a great family man, and he'll be a great coach."
Filipe Luís and Jorge Jesus worked together in 2019, when the former full-back was a key player in Flamengo 's Libertadores and Brasileirão championship. During that time, the club also won the Recopa, the Supercopa do Brasil, and the Campeonato Carioca . The current Mengão coach acknowledges the Portuguese's influence on his career and admits to modeling himself on the former Flamengo manager's style:
"I can never compare past teams with my current team; they have completely different players. I can never compare myself to the coach I was in charge of at that time, Jorge Jesus. If he's not the best in history, he's one of the best to have played here at Flamengo . I'll never be like him, I'll never do anything like what he did," the coach declared.
Flamengo returns to the field this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã, against Estudiantes (ARG) , for the first leg of the Libertadores quarterfinals. On Sunday (21), also at Maracanã, the red-black team faces Vasco, in a classic valid for the Brazilian Championship. In the first round, the teams drew goalless.
Mengão is one of the protagonists in the football market after the financial restructuring and the director says he was approached by big names
17 Set 2025 | 08:55 |
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Flamengo's latest transfer window had an impact on the European market . In an interview with UOL, football director José Boto stated that the arrivals of Saúl, Samuel Lino, Emerson Royal, and Carrascal increased the club's visibility among players playing outside of Brazil .
José Boto on players offering themselves to Flamengo: "There were important and well-known players who showed interest in coming"
"In terms of the market, this window has a bit of an impact in Europe, opening Flamengo 's doors even further to European players. They're seeing this type of player coming here and are more interested in coming," Boto stated.
The Portuguese director also revealed that prominent European football players had offered to play for Flamengo , but the club chose not to move forward with negotiations . According to him, there was no need for reinforcements in those positions.
"I won't name names, but after these signings, some important and well-known players showed interest in coming . These were positions we didn't need, and I've also said that sometimes, too much water kills the plant. We didn't want to turn it into something that could harm the team," he added.
José Boto took over the club's management after Luiz Eduardo Baptista (BAP) was elected president. Since then, seven new signings have been confirmed, with a total investment of €48 million (approximately R$301 million) :
A Mengão player recently left the club for Saudi Arabia and played a key role in overturning a 2-0 deficit.
17 Set 2025 | 08:28 |
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Midfielder Matheus Gonçalves, formerly of Flamengo , made his winning debut for Al-Ahli, from Saudi Arabia, this Monday (15). The Brazilian came on at half-time and was decisive in the team's comeback, which turned the game around to 4-2 over Nasaf Qarshi, from Uzbekistan, in the Asian Champions League. Al-Ahli went into the break with a 2-0 deficit. After the match, the player celebrated the positive start at his new club:
Matheus Gonçalves, ex-Flamengo: "It's just the beginning of a journey of hard work and achievements"
"It was a very special night for me. Making my debut in such an important competition and being able to help the team achieve a victory like this makes me very happy . The group showed strength and unity to seek a comeback, and I'm sure this is just the beginning of a journey of hard work and achievements here at Al-Ahli," said the Mengão youth player.
Sold by Flamengo in August 2025, for 8 million euros (around R$ 50 million), Matheus arrives as one of Al-Ahli's bets for the season . The next challenge will be on Friday (19), against Al-Hilal, for the Saudi Championship.
Revealed as a professional in October 2022, Matheus Gonçalves has won important titles with Flamengo : two Carioca Championships, the Brazilian Super Cup, and the Brazilian Cup. In total, he played 57 matches for the main team, winning 36, drawing eight, losing 13, and scoring six goals.
While Matheus Gonçalves seeks his place in Saudi Arabia, Flamengo faces Estudiantes this Thursday (18), at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), at Maracanã . The return game, in La Plata, is already scheduled for September 25. The match will be broadcast on ESPN (pay TV) and Disney+ (streaming) throughout Brazil.
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