
Soccer
Final adjustments: Flamengo brings surprises to the squad for the crucial clash against Corinthians
Soccer
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Nigerian Shola is one of the highlights of Flamengo's under-20 team. The striker was the scorer of one of the goals in the Libertadores final and helped the red and black team become champions of the competition. With this, Mais Querido won the opportunity to perform at Intercontinental Under-20, the Club World Cup for young people, and counts on the talented African to lift this trophy again.
Shola He was delighted with the red and black fans in an interview with the 'GE' portal. The striker had the opportunity to see the Nation in his first relationship between the club's professionals against Botafogo last Sunday (18). The Flamengo fans' love for Mais Querido was what surprised the Nigerian the most.
“They are very passionate about football. They support the players, the team in every game, whether professional or under-20... It's wonderful. It’s a lot of love, it’s crazy”, said Shola, who sees in the red and black fans the possibility of achieving fame with their work. “I think about it often (about being famous). I will probably be a famous person in Brazil. One of the reasons why I am the first African at Flamengo's base. Everyone, everywhere, on social media, talks to me about it.”
Despite the shyness and little knowledge of the Portuguese language, communication has not been a problem for the Nigerian. Coach Filipe Luís is one of those who communicates the most with the attacker. For ‘GE’, the former red and black full-back praised Shola, pointed out his main characteristics and guaranteed that the young man is a differentiator for his team.
“He is a player who already has a very marked game characteristic, which is speed, he has good one-on-one skills. You need space to be able to perform well. He has been assimilating well, has been growing a lot and is a player who has also demonstrated that he can play in other positions and perform various functions. He sacrifices a lot for the team. So, I really like it. It's a pleasure to work with him, because he really is one of the differences, perhaps the biggest difference in our team, because he is a very dangerous, lethal player and gives us every possibility of playing with the ball. Combined play, but also play in a transitional way if necessary”, said the coach.
In July, Flamengo entered into an agreement to buy 70% of the economic rights of Nigerian Shola, who is at the club on loan since April 2023. The transaction will cost around 450 thousand dollars, approximately R$2.4 million at the current exchange rate. The striker now lives in anticipation of when he will have the opportunity to play with coach Tite's main team. The player already trains with the top group and is registered in the Libertadores.
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Rubro-Negro dominates the offensive presence category, leading both in touches in the final third and in expected goals (xG)
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Flamengo continues to demonstrate why it is considered the most feared team in the 2025 Brasileirão. According to a survey by the "DataFut" profile, the Rubro-Negro dominates the offensive presence category, leading both in touches in the final third and in expected goals (xG). In practice, this efficiency translates into the best attack in the competition, with 11 goals scored so far.
The graph reveals that Flamengo is the team that exchanges the most passes in the attacking sector, but the biggest highlight is its ability to transform this possession into real goal opportunities. Rubro-Negro has an impressive 2.2 goals per game, with numbers that reinforce its high offensive quality.
*data collected from Sofascore
Even with a better attack, Flamengo wastes many chances
Flamengo creates, on average, 3.6 big scoring chances per game, although they still waste two clear opportunities per match, something that, if adjusted, could make the team even more lethal.
With 15.2 shots per game (6.2 of which were on target), Filipe Luís' team demonstrates aggression and consistency. The intense offensive movement is also reflected in the number of fouls suffered (11.6 direct shots per game).
Flamengo not only dominates possession and occupies the opponent's field, but also transforms this offensive presence into concrete numbers. Still, the Rubro-Negro can be even more objective due to the number of chances it creates. If this is corrected, it will be very difficult for the Mais Querido to have results like the 0x0 against Vasco.
This Sunday (27), Mengão will have the opportunity to show its offensive power in front of a completely packed Maracanã, with all tickets sold for the duel against Corinthians, at 4 pm, for the sixth round of the Brasileirão.
Former goalkeeper told MengoCast how the unexpected invitation from the Rio de Janeiro club became the key to his career even after his decision to retire
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An idol of Flamengo during the historic victories of the early 1980s, Raul Plassmann relived one of the most curious moments of his career in football. In an appearance on "MengoCast", the former goalkeeper revealed that he had already retired from his sports career when he received, without prior warning, the news that he would be the new signing for the Rio de Janeiro club . The announcement was made on national television, while he was having dinner with his parents in Curitiba.
The phone will ring soon. Five minutes later, it rang.” - said Raul about his announcement at Flamengo
The story begins in 1978. Raul, then 32 years old, decided to end his career after playing for Coritiba, São Paulo and Cruzeiro. According to him, the decision came at a time when he was feeling discouraged about football. “I stopped. Back in Belo Horizonte, I said: 'I don't want to do it anymore'. I took my car and left for Curitiba. I went to live with my parents”, he recalled. Despite his successful career, Raul said that he never dreamed of being a professional player — his initial goal was just to be able to buy a car.
At home, away from the field, Raul was surprised by a news story while watching Jornal Nacional. “ Fernando Vanucci came on air and said: ‘Raul is Flamengo’s new goalkeeper’” . According to him, silence took over the room. His mother, surprised, asked questions. His father, in shock, just watched. Raul, however, realized that it was not a joke. “I said: ‘The phone is going to ring soon’. Five minutes later, it rang”.
On the other end of the line, Márcio Braga, then president of Flamengo , was direct: “I bought your pass. You show up tomorrow.” Raul , still reluctant, said that he had already stopped playing. But the director insisted, stating that the goalkeeper was now a player for the club. At first, Raul rejected the offer. In addition to his lack of interest, he thought the salary was low and was uncomfortable with the idea of living with the youth players in São Conrado.
Despite a drop in ticket sales and transfers, the red-black team remains at the top of the continental rankings with growth in the commercial sector, ahead of MLS giants
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Flamengo closed 2024 as the club in the Americas with the highest operating revenue, according to a report by consultancy firm Sports Value released this Thursday (24). The Rio de Janeiro club reached the mark of US$ 212 million, equivalent to around R$ 1.2 billion, surpassing big names in North American football, such as Inter Miami and Los Angeles FC.
COMMERCIAL GROWTH OFFSETS DECLINES ON OTHER FRONTS
Despite facing reduced revenue from player transfers, ticket sales and membership fees, Mengão managed to maintain its position at the top thanks to strong commercial performance. Strategic partnerships and marketing initiatives ensured the club's finances remained buoyant in a challenging year off the pitch.
INTER MIAMI RISES UP THE RANKINGS WITH MESSI EFFECT
Inter Miami came in second place in the survey, earning US$190 million. Boosted by the arrival of Lionel Messi, the North American club made a considerable leap compared to the previous year, when it was only in fifth place. The presence of the Argentine star transformed the level of exposure and revenue of the Florida team.
The ranking compiled by Sports Value also points to Palmeiras, with US$144 million, and Los Angeles FC, with US$142 million, right behind. The São Paulo team stood out in the negotiations for players, raising around US$76 million in transfers during the period . Atlanta United rounds out the top 5, with US$131 million.
According to the consultancy, operating revenue corresponds to the total obtained from the sale of products and services, before discounts and taxes. In the case of Mais Querido, the positive performance in this regard highlights a management focused on diversifying sources of income, beyond the sports field.