ZICO CONGRATULATES FLAMENGO MANAGER AFTER CONQUERING THE BRASILEIRÃO U-20

Wallace Yan was sent off after just 11 minutes in Flamengo's 1-0 loss to Bahia, drawing intense criticism, including from former player and broadcaster Neto. The young striker, who came on in the second half to try to help the team , ended up receiving two yellow cards in quick succession, leaving Flamengo with two players down.

During the program 'Os Donos da Bola,' Neto didn't mince words: "The two ejections in the Flamengo game were correct. Danilo's and that kid over there, who thinks he's Zico. Masked. Wallace Yan, who do you think you are? You wear a Flamengo jersey, brother," he said.

Neto emphasized the importance of young players understanding the responsibility of playing for the club and cited Mengão's longtime idols as role models. " The club is trying to win the Brazilian Championship, and you come onto the field and get sent off after 11 minutes. When did you play? Do you know who Zico is? Andrade? Cláudio Adão? Adílio? Who are you to do what you did?" he added.

MATCH CONTEXT

The match against Bahia was already a challenge for Mengão, who were trailing 1-0 and had Danilo sent off in the first half. Wallace Yan came on as an attacking alternative in an attempt to level the playing field , but his early dismissal further complicated the team's situation.

WALLACE YAN FINED

According to information released by journalist Venê Casagrande, the club decided not to remove the player from the main squad, but to impose an internal punishment for educational purposes. The measure aims to educate the player about the responsibility of acting with emotional balance in decisive matches.

The latest episode of the program "Resenha do Galinho," hosted by Zico on Flamengo TV, featured a special meeting with two of the club's most iconic goalkeepers: Raul Plassmann and Rossi . The greatest idol in Mengão's history acted as a mediator and facilitated a rich exchange of experiences between different generations of the goalkeeper.

One of the main topics of the discussion was the evolution of the goalkeeper's role in football and the differences between eras. Raul Plassmann, a world champion with Flamengo in 1981, recalled that he never had a coach specialized in the role during his career, a common practice in professional clubs today.

"I didn't have a goalkeeping coach. It was you and Bria, who would take free kicks after training sessions. It was a different world, Rossi, completely different from today. That's how football was run," Raul stated, highlighting the limitations of the time.

CHANGES IN GOALKEEPERS' POSTURE

Rossi agreed with Raul and highlighted other significant changes in the goalkeeper's role. The Argentinean emphasized that goalkeepers now participate more in the game with their feet , which has transformed the style of the position and increased the market value of these players.

"Football has changed a lot. Before, the goalkeeper would pick up the ball and kick it long, but today it's played short. Even when it came to goalkeepers, they didn't come out as much before, and that's changed too. These days, a goalkeeper can be sold for €50 million, something that never used to happen . The goalkeeper participates more than it seems," explained Rossi.

This week, former Barcelona and PSG player Rafinha Alcântara appeared on the "Charla Podcast" and commented on his desire to play for Flamengo, the club he considers dear to his heart. The son of World Cup winner Mazinho, Rafinha said he was open to a possible return to Brazilian football , but has not made any concrete decisions at this time.

" I still haven't played in Brazil, but I'm still open to it, you never know . Specifically, Flamengo. Everyone knows I'm a Flamengo fan," said the midfielder, highlighting the influence of his Vasco-supporting father on his childhood.

CHILDHOOD AND INFLUENCES

Rafinha explained how, despite his family's Vasco da Gama tradition, he decided to support Flamengo as a child. During a Fla-Flu match, when he was about seven years old, he entered the field accompanied by players like Júlio César and Athirson, and was captivated by the red-and-black fans.

" I walked into a packed Maracanã stadium, with the Flamengo fans going crazy for the Fla-Flu match, and I said , 'I want to be that.' From then on, it was all talk at home: 'We're Flamengo fans, Dad,'" the midfielder recalled. This remarkable experience was crucial for the emotional bond with the "Most Beloved," which remains to this day.

CONTACT WITH FLAMENGO

When asked about a possible deal with Flamengo , Rafinha revealed that there were talks with the Rio de Janeiro club in 2017 , around the same time the club signed Everton Ribeiro. The player assessed that, even without completing the deal, his career choice was the right one.

" At that time, I had meetings with Flamengo, but I chose the path I followed . It was the right decision at the time," commented the former athlete, who still admires Mengão and considers the possibility of a return in the future.