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Flamengo faces Santos this Wednesday (16), at 8 pm, at Vila Belmiro, for the 14th round of the Brasileirão Betano. Rubro-Negro leads the competition with 27 points, the same number as Cruzeiro, but with an advantage in goal difference. The Rio de Janeiro team seeks to maintain the lead and extend its winning streak.

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has appointed Minas Gerais referee Felipe Fernandes de Lima to officiate the match between Santos and Flamengo. This will be Felipe's seventh match in the 2025 Brasileirão Betano, his third for Santos and his first for Flamengo in the competition.

FLAMENGO HOLDS POSITIVE MOMENTUM

Felipe Fernandes de Lima refereed two Flamengo matches in the 2021 Brasileirão, both of which resulted in Flamengo victories: 5-1 against São Paulo and 3-0 against Fortaleza. The record is favorable to Flamengo, who have never lost under the referee.

Felipe Fernandes de Lima has been embroiled in controversy both on and off the field. In 2023, videos showed his ex-wife kissing Sérgio Santos Rodrigues, former president of Cruzeiro, which generated widespread attention. On the field, he was criticized for his performance in matches such as Internacional vs. Athletico-PR and Atlético-MG vs. Cruzeiro, both in 2024.

A PRODUCTIVE GAME FOR ARBITRATION

With Flamengo 's favorable track record under Felipe Fernandes de Lima and the recent controversies involving the referee, the match promises to be tense. Santos, which has already expressed dissatisfaction with previous decisions, will be watching every play. Flamengo aims to maintain its lead and extend its lead in the championship.

The Pedro and Filipe Luís case continues to generate controversy . Former Flamengo player Alecsandro appeared on the Panela SporTV program and expressed a strong opinion on the recent controversy involving the number 9 and the coach of the "Mais Querido" (Flamengo). The former athlete defended the striker and condemned the extensive use of technologies, such as GPS, to assess performance.

Alecsandro recalled his experience in the final stages of his career, when physical data often indicated he was the lowest on the team in sprints, speed, and movement. However, he emphasized that his role on the field as a center forward was much more specific and could not be evaluated in the same way as other players.

Alecsandro criticizes Filipe Luís: "I had a coach who didn't talk to the athlete and put the guy to play."

He continued: "Because the guy was performing well and had to play. On the other hand, when Filipe talks about the last in the physical part, the last in I don't know what... brother, Pedro is there to score goals. At the end of my career, I got this modern football with GPS. And I was always the last."

NUMBERS EVALUATIONS DO NOT CONSIDERS THE RESPONSIBILITIES AND FUNCTIONS OF PLAYERS

According to Alecsandro, the statistics used in soccer and training don't consider the true responsibilities and roles of each player on the field: "But I'd tell the guys: 'I'm going to score the goal and it'll end 2-1, 1-0, with a goal by me.' But I couldn't run faster than Marcos Rocha or Dudu. I was the last in my physical abilities," he said before adding:

But within the limits of my speed, I was good. So, from my perspective, he exaggerated a lot of what Filipe demanded. Pedro is a player who works in a specific area of the field, running 9 or 10 km, while a defensive midfielder runs 20 ," the former Flamengo player noted.

PEDRO STILL IS OUT OF THE RELATED LIST

Thus, despite Alecsandro's criticism, coach Filipe Luís kept Pedro out of the list of players involved in the match against Santos, this Wednesday (16). Flamengo faces the São Paulo team at Vila Belmiro, at 8 pm, for the 14th round of the Brasileirão.

Flamengo is keeping an eye on the transfer market and could invest heavily to strengthen its attack. Following the controversy surrounding Pedro , the club is evaluating its options and has entered the race to sign Taty Castellanos, a forward for Lazio and the Argentine national team. The information was initially revealed by journalist Venê Casagrande.

FLAMENGO OPENS UP ABOUT NEGOTIATIONS

Valentín "Taty" Castellanos is 26 years old, Argentine, and currently plays for Lazio in Italy . A South American soccer sensation with notable stints at MLS clubs and Girona in Spain, the striker is known for his physical strength, intense movement, and eye for goal.

VALUES DEFINED AT THE TABLE

Lazio has indicated that it will only negotiate the player's transfer for €25 million—equivalent to approximately R$160 million at the current exchange rate. The amount is considered high by Brazilian soccer standards, but Flamengo is analyzing ways to make the investment viable. Castellanos and Flamengo have already reached an agreement: the contract length and base salary are aligned.

The Argentine, in fact, has reportedly expressed excitement about the possibility of playing in Brazilian football, specifically for the red-and-black team. The search for a new number 9 has intensified following the tension between Pedro and the club. The controversy surrounding the striker and assistant coach Filipe Luís has worsened the situation, and the player's departure is being considered behind the scenes. As a result, Castellanos's name has gained traction.