Soccer
27 Nov 2024 | 13:18 |
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Today highlighted at Lille, in France, defender Alexsandrohad a career marked by challenges before consolidating itself in European football. Having spent time at Flamengo's academy, where he interacted with players like Vini Jr., the athlete had to leave the club in search of better opportunities.
Flamengo's departure and difficult start
In an interview with ESPN, Alexsandro said that he chose to leave Flamengo because he was not part of the group of most promising athletes at the time. After leaving the club, he faced a period of uncertainty, going through trials, playing in the floodplain and even considering giving up football.
“I was very happy, unfortunately I couldn't continue, because the season was very good and I wasn't one of the promising players. I made the decision to leave and see something better in my life”, said Alexsandro.
During this time, he worked at fairs, as a bricklayer and even collecting PET bottles to help his family.
"Man, I'll be honest, almost every day I thoughtthis ( giving up), but at the same time I had to get back on my feet, because my family needed me. So every time I got discouraged, when things didn't work out, when I got a no... It was normal be sad, but I looked around at home and saw my brothers, my family going through difficulties, I knew I had to go back< /b>”, declared Alexsandro.
“I was very discouraged because I had already been to eight clubs and I didn't want it anymore. tired, you know? And I was already 18 years old, so I had the responsibilityof helping around the house and I wasn't doing it, and I'm an older brother I was going to quit. football to be able to work”, he added.
The turning point in his career came with the help of the coach Léo Percovich, then coach of Fluminense's under-20s, who brokered an opportunity at Praiense, a 3rd division club in Portugal. It was the chance that Alexsandro needed to begin his rise in football.
“I had everything to go wrong, man, everything to be in crime today. But I'm here, and I have to enjoy it, enjoy every moment, because I know that many wanted to be here. Many players, many promises at the base like there were at Flamengo and they didn't arrive. Why? I don't know, but I arrived, by merit, by work, by dedication and I want to enjoy more and more” , he concluded.
Conquest of space in Lille
After playing for smaller clubs in Portugal, Alexsandro caught the attention of Lille while playing for Chaves. Since his arrival at the French club, he has become an absolute starter, with solid performances. One of the most memorable moments of his career was the duel against Flamengo's former teammate, Vini Jr., in Lille's victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Valued at 8 million euros
Currently, at 25 years old, Alexsandro is valued at 8 million euros (around R$ 50 million) and is one of the key pieces of the French team. His trajectory inspires overcoming and the effort to transform difficulties into opportunities to achieve success in international football.
Defeat at Maracanã forces Mais Querido to win away from home by two goals to continue in the competition and the coach explains about the youth team's defenders
01 Ago 2025 | 23:00 |
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Flamengo was defeated by Atlético-MG 1-0 on Thursday night (1), at Maracanã, in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. The result forces the Rio de Janeiro club to seek qualification away from home, at Arena MRV. To advance directly, the team needs to win by at least two goals. If they achieve a simple victory, the spot will be decided on penalties. A draw favors Galo.
During the post-match press conference, coach Filipe Luís commented on the decision to maintain the starting defensive formation against the Minas Gerais opponent. He said the decision was made considering the complexity of the match and the physical strain on the players.
"I think defense is a delicate area. I don't like to change the back line; I try to change it as little as possible. Considering the wear and tear you mentioned, there's also the opponent. They're a team that causes us a lot of problems in the back line," said the Flamengo coach.
Filipe Luís also mentioned the defensive risks Atlético-MG's attack posed, highlighting the offensive prowess of players like Hulk, Rony, and Cuello . The decision to preserve the squad's young defenders was precisely due to this scenario.
Filipe Luís talks about Flamengo's youth defenders: "It wouldn't be fair to the kids"
" I didn't think it would be fair to the boys to play this game. I believe that always playing in defense is a more delicate situation, and the attack with Hulk, Rony, and Cuello would create difficulties for our back line. That's why I chose to keep them. But, if we need them against Ceará, or even in the second leg, I know we have João and Cleiton," added the coach.
Before the reunion with Atlético-MG, Flamengo returns to the field for the Brazilian Championship this Sunday (03). The match will be against Ceará, at 6:30 pm (Brasília time), at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza, valid for the 18th round of the competition. The match will be broadcast live on the Premiere channel.
In a tight game at Presidente Vargas Stadium, the teams remain tied at 0-0 and the decision for a place in the semifinals will be made in next week's match.
01 Ago 2025 | 22:00 |
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On Thursday afternoon (31), Flamengo Women faced Fortaleza at Presidente Vargas Stadium, in Fortaleza (CE), for the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Brazilian Under-20 Championship. The score ended 0-0 after 90 minutes of balance and intense marking , keeping the dispute for a place in the semifinals of the competition open. The decisive clash is scheduled for next week, in Rio de Janeiro.
The first half was marked by intense midfield battles and few clear-cut scoring opportunities. Despite their technically demanding efforts, Mais Querido struggled against the home team's strong marking.
The red-and-blacks ' best chances came from set pieces: a free kick taken by Carol Martins and a corner kick taken by Isabela Nunes , which ended with a header from Brendha and a good save from the opposing goalkeeper. The scoreless draw remained until halftime.
In the second half, Flamengo continued to try to open the scoring, but again encountered resistance from Fortaleza's defense. The game remained tight, with many physical duels and little attacking activity from either side. The substitutions made by coach Filipe Torres didn't have the desired effect, and the intensity of the match dropped considerably. In the end, in stoppage time, Isabela Nunes crossed to Emilly, who fought back, and Alice shot over the bar—the last real chance before the final whistle.
Before the decisive quarter-final match, Mengão debuts in the U-20 Women's Carioca Championship this Sunday (3), against União Central, at 11 am, in Gávea. The coaching staff takes advantage of the state duel to maintain the athletes' rhythm and adjust the team for the return match against Fortaleza, where only a victory guarantees direct qualification for the semi-final of the Brasileirão in the category.
After a 1-0 loss at Maracanã in the Copa do Brasil, the Mais Querido coach says he will try to reverse the score away from home and highlights planning
01 Ago 2025 | 21:30 |
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Flamengo lost 1-0 to Atlético-MG this Thursday (1st) at Maracanã in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Copa do Brasil. Despite the negative result, coach Filipe Luís believes the match remains open and that Flamengo is fully capable of seeking qualification away from home. The second leg will be held at Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte.
Filipe Luís reveals his goal at Flamengo: "Brazilian and Libertadores are priorities"
"The Brazilian Championship and the Libertadores are priorities, but I came in to win . Just like in the Ceará game, I'm prepared to win with the players I believe are the best. Of course, in the second leg, we'll try to turn things around. In my opinion, it's wide open. We know it's difficult to play in our opponent's stadium, but just as they won here, we can win there," said Filipe Luís in the post-match press conference.
When asked about the absence of some important names in the match, the commander explained that the decision to rest players was made strategically , taking into account the physical wear and tear and the tactical fit thought out for the Flamengo match.
"It was a plan in which I decided on the players. None of them had been ruled out, but I believe that given their current run of form, it wouldn't be wise to play them today and Sunday as well. And also that they fit in with the game plan I had envisioned for the match. In the other game, Arrascaeta was on the field and didn't benefit from that plan. I opted for other changes, to rest him so he could have some training sessions and be in good shape next week," he added.
To qualify for the Copa do Brasil quarterfinals, Flamengo will have to beat Atlético-MG by two goals in Belo Horizonte. If the Rio de Janeiro team wins by just one goal, the match will go to penalties. A draw favors Atlético-MG, who have the advantage after the result at Maracanã.
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