Flamengo fans ask for Portuguese to replace Tite

The Flamengo squad completed preparations for the game against Grêmio, valid for the 27th round of the Brasileirão. According to information about the team drafted by Tite in training this Saturday (21), Argentine Carlos Alcaraz and young Lorran should be in the likely lineup. Furthermore, Carlinhos is considered the favorite to lead the red and black attack on Sunday (22), as reported by the portal 'Coluna do Fla'. Probable Flamengo lineup

Matheus Cunha; Wesley, David Luiz, Cleiton and Ayrton Lucas; Evertton Araújo, Allan and Alcaraz; Matheus Gonçalves, Lorran and Carlinhos.

Thinking about the important Libertadores game next Thursday (26), against Peñarol (URU ), which is worth a place in the semi-finals, Flamengo will enter the field with an alternative team on Sunday (22). On Friday (20), the club announced that 12 players will be rested and will not travel to Porto Alegre: Rossi, Varela, Fabrício Bruno, Léo Pereira, Ayrton Lucas, Erick Pulgar, Léo Ortiz, Nicolás de la Cruz, Arrascaeta, Gonzalo Plata, Gerson and Bruno Henrique will remain in Rio de Janeiro.

Flamengo has also faced absences due to injuries. Are out: Everton Cebolinha (Achilles tendon rupture), Viña (cruciate ligament rupture and tibial fracture), Pedro (anterior cruciate knee ligament rupture), Michael (muscle injury), Luiz Araújo (knee cartilage fracture right) and Gabigol (fibrosis in the right thigh).

Situation in the Brasileirão

Currently in fourth place in the Brazilian Championship, with 45 points, Flamengo has 13 wins, six draws and six defeats. The team has scored 40 goals and conceded 29 so far. The team needs a victory to continue its rise in the table.

Grêmio x Flamengo

The clash between Grêmio and Flamengo will take place on Sunday (22), at 6:30 pm (Brasília time) , in Porto Alegre, for the 27th round of the Brazilian Championship. 

Doctor Luiz Antônio Vieira, responsible for Pedro's surgery, commented that the attacker's recovery has been very positive. The surgeon was responsible for reconstructing the anterior cruciate ligament in Pedro's knees — on the right in 2018 and on the left this year. Vieira believes that the player's return will be better than his first injury, which occurred six years ago.

In an interview with the 'GE' portal, the doctor, who also operated on Bruno Henrique, detailed the surgical procedure, highlighting Pedro's physical and psychological qualities and reassured Flamengo fans about the possibility of the striker being present at the Club World Cup, in June next year.

“He was lucky not to have a meniscus injury , so joint rehabilitation is faster. We're still in September, I mean, he'll be there for about eight months, because that's around the time he turns around, between the eighth and ninth month. So I believe he has a chance. He is very dedicated, super focused on rehabilitation, does everything you tell him to, has strong legs, good muscles... I think he has a chance. He will be around the time he would more or less return”, said the doctor.

Luiz Antônio Vieira commented on the way Pedro is coping mentally with the situation. After suffering the same injury in 2018 to one knee, the attacker now has the anterior cruciate ligament in his other knee torn. The doctor highlighted that Flamengo's Shirt 9 is very calm and sees this as a learning experience for his life.

“He has one good thing: he is quite religious. So he believes that it is part of his life learning, that he had to go through this. He accepted, in a way he resigned himself a little. He said: ‘Doctor, I’ve been through this, I’m going to have to go through it again, it was supposed to be like this, it’s part of my life, let’s face it’. He is super calm about it”, explained Vieira.

In addition, Vieira mentioned the time that Pedro will be able to spend with his twin daughters, who were born just over a month ago.

“He’s at a stage where he just had a baby, right? He has one-month-old twins, so I told him: “Everything in life has a good and a bad side. You will now be able to live with your one-month-old daughters because playing football two or three times a week would be impossible, right”? So let's put it this way, there will be this good part, in inverted commas, of his drama”, concluded the surgeon.

Flamengo remains interested in the signing of Lucas Paquetá, from West Ham (ING). However, Mais Querido may gain a competitor. This is because Al Nassr, Cristiano Ronaldo's team, investigated the midfielder's contractual situation.

According to information from the Bryan Nassr portal, which reports on the day-to-day life of the Saudi team, Lucas Paquetá entered the radar of Cristiano Ronaldo's team for the next season. Furthermore, the UAE club spoke with the midfielder and his agents, with the aim of finding out if the player wants to play in the Saudi League.

However, Paquetá wants to play in the Flamengo while responding to accusations for possible sports manipulation. The midfielder has already reported to Rubro-Negro his desire to return to Brazilian football, and Mais Querido's directors are awaiting the conversation between the athlete and the English club to move forward in negotiations.

It is worth remembering that the first proposal made by Flamengo to West Ham was around 15 million euros (R$89 million). However, the English team refused the amount. However, the refusal was expected by the red and black directors, as the desire was to make it clear that it is not just a survey and that the club is willing to invest in the player.

So, Mais Querido already knows the amount requested by West Ham to release Lucas Paquetá and will ultimately be able to make an offer that the English cannot refuse. Furthermore, Rubro-Negro will not give up on the midfielder easily, as internally his signing is seen as a "grand finale" of Flamengo's current management.