THE GLOBE

Accustomed to the pressure from the fans, Obina returns \ While Flamengo players take the blow, the striker lives with instability at the club \ At a time when Flamengo's players repeatedly resent the fans' demands, one player in particular has become a key player. No one knows better than Obina how much fan behavior can change overnight, with a win or a goal. The striker himself, who returns to the team on Sunday, knows he's once again in a phase where he's forced to prove himself. \ In 2008, he scored ten goals that season. He didn't start the year so well, but he became beloved again after being decisive in the State finals. Now, eleven games without scoring, he's already heard boos and renewed protests. \ "It's like that here. The fans take you from heaven to hell very quickly. I've always experienced this at Flamengo. Of course, it would be better to have the fans by your side. But with a winning streak, the fans will trust us again," says Obina. \ And, at a time when the team's lack of goals is causing impatience, Obina will be saddled with the responsibility of scoring. Marcelinho Paraíba's qualification to face Santos on Sunday at Vila Belmiro is difficult. Vandinho is practically ruled out. Therefore, coach Caio Júnior will have to choose between Maxi, Éder, and Paulo Sérgio to pair with Obina. \ The team returns to its starting central defense, Fábio Luciano and Ronaldo Angelim. Kleberson, recovered from a dislocated shoulder, is still undergoing physical training. Looking for reinforcements, the board has changed its strategy: it will remain silent about signings until they are finalized. The English press reports that Vágner Love is expected to join Everton. \

SPORTS JOURNAL

No signings and no news

Irritated by press speculation, Kleber Leite announces absolute silence

Eduardo Lacombe, Bernardo Peirão and Nathan de Lima

When Flamengo announced the sale of Renato Augusto, Marcinho, and Souza, its vice president of football, Kleber Leite, promised fans that he would replace them with at least two renowned players and one promising player. However, so far, only two promising players—Vandinho and Eltinho, and Marcelinho Paraíba—have been signed. \ The drama escalated after news broke that Felipe and Vagner Love had been unable to release themselves from their respective clubs. The former met with the Al-Sadd sheikh yesterday, but received a negative response regarding his loan. CSKA, which holds Love's rights, reportedly received a tempting offer from England's Everton, although their agent, Cláudio Guadagno, claims to be unaware of such an offer.\ Quite irritated by the progress of the negotiations and by some names that have been speculated by the press, such as Zé Roberto, Kleber Leite decided not to comment further on any matter involving negotiations.\ "I don't want to talk about this anymore. I won't talk to anyone anymore. When a player is signed, I'll post it on the club's website. I'm taking this measure to prevent crazy names from being speculated. People make up some things, and then it becomes an obligation. I won't say anything, not even to anyone here at Flamengo. I'm the one who handles the negotiations," explained Kleber Leite, deeply irritated.\ With recent disappointments, Flamengo is turning its attention to other players, such as midfielder Gracián (Boca Jrs) and forward Ilan (Saint-Etienne). According to the Argentine's agent, Miguel Corol, Gracián wants to come to Rio, but Boca Jrs is asking a high fee (around R$4 million) for 50% of his economic rights. To bring the player in, Flamengo is reportedly looking for partners.\ As for Ilan, unlike recent attempts (Morales and Josiel), his family's desire to return to Brazil could weigh in Flamengo's favor.\ Another possibility that has been revived is to bring in Éverton in advance, having been signed for the beginning of 2009. According to his agent, Luiz Alberto, a solution should be found in a new meeting with the Paraná Board of Directors. \

Eltinho is not afraid to replace Juan

Amid the bad news about the possibility of signing reinforcements, coach Caio Júnior continues to struggle to field a competitive team in the Brazilian Championship. For the match against Santos, Sunday at 16 p.m. at Vila Belmiro, he already knows he won't be able to count on left-back Juan, who he himself recognizes as the team's best player at the moment, as he is suspended for picking up his third yellow card in the victory over Atlético-PR.\ His place will be taken by newcomer Eltinho. The full-back, who arrived at the club recommended by Caio Júnior, having worked with the coach at Paraná in 2006, spent a significant amount of time injured and is still recovering physically. \ Nothing to discourage him. He's been working on his fitness since arriving at the club, and he's confident he's ready to debut. While acknowledging the responsibility of replacing the team's best player, Eltinho asserts his belief in a strong debut and that he'll help Flamengo secure a solid victory. \ "I'm fine. These two weeks I've been training have been good for me, they were important for getting back into shape. My expectations are the best they can be. I've worked hard and I'm at the coach's disposal," said the full-back, who doesn't want to repeat the poor performance of Egídio, the last one to try to replace Juan.\

Everton could still arrive in 2008

The fight to strengthen one of the most vulnerable positions in the squad continues. Attacking midfielder Everton, from Paraná, who was only supposed to join Flamengo next year, could still play for the red-and-black team in the 2008 Brasileirão.\ The player's agents, Luiz Alberto and Jatobá, will meet tomorrow with Paraná president Aurival Correia to try to secure the 19-year-old's release. As an argument, they are bringing a list of Flamengo players who could be loaned to the Paraná club. Furthermore, Flamengo is willing to pay a sum of money to secure Everton as soon as possible.\

Obina regrets the fans' distrust

Idolized by the red-and-black nation at the start of the Brasileirão, Flamengo no longer excites its fans as it once did. With the team's recent drop in performance, a mood of distrust has emerged in the stands. For striker Obina, who has gone eleven games without scoring, the support of Flamengo fans is crucial for the team's recovery in the championship.\ "We ended up suffering a regrettable decline. I know that when performance drops, the pressure increases. But it's hard not to have the support of the fans, which we had when the championship started," lamented the striker.\ The fan favorite believes in Flamengo's recovery. He hopes the victory against Atlético-PR in the last round has restored the confidence the group had in the stands. \ "It's hard to see the Maracanã packed with that huge crowd booing. But now that we've won again, the fans will start to trust us again, and together, we'll get back to the top of the Brazilian Championship. It's a very difficult championship, but we'll try to get back to the top of the table," said Obina.\

John Areosa

Free Kick HIT IT, PARAÍBA! I've been visiting my blogs with my friend Gilberto Azer Maluf. If I'm not mistaken, I've already introduced him to you, but it's worth repeating that he's a São Paulo native who supports Corinthians and recently decided to move to Rio de Janeiro with all his heart and soul. More than just a fan, he's a student of all things soccer.\ But why would Maluf have come to JS's Blogs to say hello to me? Let me explain: I commented on Flamengo's failed signings and put Marcelinho Paraíba's name in the mix.\ "Areosa, raise your hands to the heavens and give thanks," Maluf says from there, adding: "Marceli Paraíba will bring you much joy. If I were to measure your football by assigning a weight or algorithm, I would start from the premise, comparing you as being five times better than Tardelli."\ I thought to myself: since he's a respectable observer with good standing, my friend just revealed to me that Flamengo will redeem itself from its recent embarrassments and return to the elite group, the so-called G4. Marcelinho is the dog in human form. \ Maluf's last sentence, however, left the columnist doubtful about the firepower of the aforementioned Paraíba. Read on. \ "Although the last time I saw him play was for Grêmio in 2001, when Corinthians lost the Copa do Brasil at Morumbi."\ It's been a good seven years now. And time is unforgiving. \ You know something, reader? No? Well, you'll find out soon: I think Flamengo missed a great opportunity to fight for something better than fourth or fifth place in this Brasileirão.\ Through that open window, important players left the team, and only now has something worthwhile come in. Marcelinho Paraíba is, indeed, one of those forwards who roams the box, bothers defenders, and leaves us with the scent of goal in our nostrils.\ But while Flamengo struggles to get its act together, I'll be replenishing my energy by watching the Olympic Games, where good old judo (my second sport after soccer) is making an appearance. And between ippons, I look at the pool, where Michael Phelps towers. This guy isn't a man. He's a fish. A hungry fish, devouring medals with the voracity of sharks.\ I pray to the gods of Olympus to give me the strength and stamina to keep watching the Olympics until the end. These late nights of sports are killing me.\

THE DAY

After being out of action for 10 months, Eltinho will replace Juan at Flamengo

Rio - While the board struggles to present reinforcements and suffers from successive withdrawals (Felipe, Vágner Love, Morales, Josiel, Gracián and still waiting for a response from Ilan), Caio Júnior begins to prepare the team for the game against Santos. With faith in his body and eager to return to the field after 10 months of inactivity, Eltinho is expected to make his debut on Sunday at Vila Belmiro.

"I'm ready to play, now it's up to Caio Júnior. I've been training well and I can't wait to get back to playing," said Eltinho, who has the phrase 'God is faithful' tattooed on his forearm.

The left-back, who suffered a serious tear in his left thigh, was approved by fitness coach Ronaldo Torres and will have the difficult task of replacing Juan, who will serve a suspension and until now was the most prominent player in the Gávea team.

Yesterday, the vice of football fans Kléber Leite stated in an official statement that he will only announce the reinforcements when the negotiation is finalized, because repeated attempts have been in vain.

Marcelinho Paraíba will arrive in Rio tomorrow and the race will be against time to try to register him quickly so he can be available for the debut in the second half of the Brazilian Championship.

Yesterday morning, the group trained at Leblon Beach. Vandinho, still recovering from an injury, is out of the game. In the afternoon, the incident involving Íbson, who against Atlético-PR reportedly prevented Jaílton from celebrating his gol, was circumvented. The player assured fans that the act was misinterpreted.

Felipe is not coming and Marcelinho will be presented on Thursday

Rio - Midfielder Felipe will not be joining Flamengo, at least not until May 2009, when his contract with Al Saad, from Qatar, ends. player returned to Doha, capital of Qatar, and heard from the Sheikh, owner of the club, that he will not be released until the end of his contract.

With that, Flamengo continues to look for more reinforcements for the team. On Thursday, Marcelinho Paraíba will be presented as Flamengo's biggest hope. goalsMeanwhile, striker Obina, who is returning from suspension, promised to work hard to get Fla back to the top of the Brazilian league.

"We knew that the championship It was difficult and we would fluctuate. But everyone is aware of what they must do and we will try, step by step, to return to leading the Brasileirão," he said in an interview with Rádio Globo.

Obina still believes in the title

Rio - After falling down the table, Flamengo won one and is back to dreaming of the title. If it's up to striker Obina, that goal is achievable. "I really believe in it, as does the whole team," said the player, who is expected to face Santos next season. game. O team São Paulo is in the relegation zone, and that is worrying.

"Right now, everyone wants to beat Flamengo, who boosts any team's morale. So, we'll try to win to climb the table. "The team being in the relegation zone is more complicated; they want to get out of the zone as quickly as possible, while we're trying to stay at the top of the table," Obina recalled.

Father of striker Ilan, who could be the next signing, William, said in an interview with Rádio Brasil that his son could come play for the club. "There has been contact with Ilan and Santa Ethiene, from France, but loaning him out is very difficult because the club doesn't want him." player He hasn't been playing and could be a signing for the Gávea team.

SPORTS GAZETTE

Wanted by Fla, Ilan wants to return to Brazilian football \ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Recommended by coach Caio Júnior, striker Ilan is Flamengo's new dream for the second half of the Brazilian Championship. Although the player's father player has declared that his son wants to return to play in Brazil, negotiations with Saint-Etienne will not be easy, as the French club only admits selling the player and has already rejected offers from teams such as Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.

"I know that Flamengo has been in contact with the player and the French club, but I don't know the details of that negotiation. Ilan is willing to play for football fans Brazilian, but on loan I think it's complicated, because his club has already refused this type of negotiation with other teams in Europe", said William Dall'igna, Ilan's father, to Rádio Brasil.

Despite Ilan's desire to return to Brazil, where he excelled with Paraná Clube and São Paulo, the player's father denies that his son is going through a bad phase in France.

“Ilan's track record in French football is very good, and to show this, just look at his time at Sochaux and Saint-Ettienne,” William highlighted.

Recovered, Leonardo returns to training at Flamengo

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo has gained a reinforcement to face Santos this Sunday. Defender Leonardo has already recovered from the arthroscopy he underwent on his knee on July 27, trained on Tuesday and has the possibility of being on the bench at Vila Belmiro.

"It's a great joy to be able to get back to doing what I love most: playing football. Now it's time to intensify my training to improve my physical condition and be available for Caio for Sunday's match against Santos," commented the defender.

Starting in just six matches in 2008, the former Palmeiras player did not participate in part of the sequence of seven games without victory red-black in the Brazilian Championship. However, despite the drop in performance that made the team falling from the lead to seventh place, Leonardo still has confidence in the title.

"I did everything I could to return as quickly as possible, and I think I succeeded. I want to get back to playing as soon as possible to help Flamengo become Brazilian champions," he concluded confidently.

Flamengo squad celebrates break in the calendar

Gazeta Press

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The month of July and the beginning of August were not very good for Flamengo. The sequence of games ended up bringing down the team from the top of the Brazilian Championship, and Rubro-Negro finished the first half in seventh place, ten points behind leaders Grêmio. Now, with the week free until Sunday's game against Santos, athletes Flamengo's team members are relieved to have the time available to get the team in order.

"With games only on weekends, we can work more on tactics. Caio Júnior really enjoys doing these tactical activities, and it will be good for getting the team in shape," commented midfielder Cristian.

The week, however, won't be just for Caio Júnior to get Flamengo in shape. Midfielder Kléberson and forward Vandinho took advantage of Tuesday to continue their injury treatment. Both are unlikely to be fit to face Santos.

Marcelinho Paraíba could debut, Zé Roberto won't come

Gazeta Press

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Announced over the weekend by Flamengo, Marcelinho Paraíba, should start training with his teammates on Thursday, and if he is registered in time, he could be selected to face Santos, on Sunday, at Vila Belmiro. player is the second reinforcement for the Rubro-negro attack for the second round, after the losses of Marcinho and Souza.

This Tuesday, the Rio de Janeiro press reported on a possible interest from Flamengo in the signing of midfielder Zé Roberto, ex- Botafogo. The businessman, Antônio Gustavo, however, denied any possibility of Zé Roberto leaving Schalke 04, where he has been since last year.

Even with Paraíba's signing, Caio Junior's problems in organizing the attack aren't over yet. Vandinho, who was injured in the match against Goiás, has little chance of recovering by Sunday. Diego Tardelli is expected to be sidelined until the end of the year.

Ibson explains himself to the fans\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - In recent weeks, several Flamengo players have been the constant target of criticism from fans. In the match against Atlético-PR, midfielder Ibson, one of the club's standout players, was booed by the fans. Even so, the player denied asking midfielder Jaílton not to celebrate the goal with the fans.

"I was really upset by the booing from some of the fans, but the celebration had nothing to do with it. Our group is very close-knit, and even in a difficult moment, that unity didn't waver. That's why I tried to stop Jaílton just so we could celebrate together. gol so important. At that moment, I wouldn't even have time to think about anything else. I grew up in Flamengo and I know the strength of our fans. If we don't have that support, it's difficult to reverse any situation," Ibson explained, trying to end the controversy.

Other athlete Obina, who has also been harassed by fans, is a player. Once idolized by the fans, the player has also been booed in recent games, and his departure has been called for through graffiti on the walls of Gávea.

With renewed spirit, Flamengo wants to recover in the second half

Gazeta Press

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The victory over Atlético-PR and the two days off have given Flamengo a boost. This Tuesday morning, the Flamengo players returned to their squad and performed physical activities at Leblon Beach. Not even the strong sun dampened the players' energy, and they are already projecting a recovery in the second half of the Brazilian Championship. Back in the team after serving a suspension, striker Obina guarantees that team will be looking for a victory against Santos, next Sunday, at Vila Belmiro.

“The objective, away from home, is to win as many points as possible and get to the top of the Brazilian Championship,” said Obina.

But after seeing Flamengo go through a seven-match drought without victories and falling to seventh place in the Brazilian Championship, Obina warns of the danger of facing an opponent that is in the relegation zone of the Brazilian Championship.

"Right now, everyone wants to beat Flamengo, because it boosts any team's morale, and Santos will do everything to win and start moving out of the relegation zone. I think it's more difficult to face a team in this situation than to fight for the title," the Flamengo striker emphasized.

PELENET

After failed attempts, Flamengo focuses on striker Ilan

Pedro Ponzoni\ In Rio de Janeiro\

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With the departures of Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen-GER), Marcinho (Qatar SC) and Souza (Panathinaikos-GRE), Flamengo dreamed of signing midfielder Felipe from Al-Sadd in Qatar and forward Vagner Love from CSKA-RUS. However, after almost a month, Flamengo was unable to sign either player and is now considering signing forward Ilan from Saint-Etienne-FRA. Regarding Felipe, who was discovered by Vasco and had a stint with Flamengo in 2004, the problem was with Al-Sadd, who wouldn't release him. The midfielder's contract with the Asian club runs until the end of May 2009.\ Vagner Love's case came close. Flamengo's lawyer, Michel Assef Filho, traveled to Moscow, Russia, to try to negotiate with CSKA president Evgeny Giner. However, the meeting was postponed several times, and in the end, the European club vetoed the striker's departure, which could lead to Everton in England.\ Additionally, two forwards were set to sign with Flamengo, but their families prevented their transfers. Uruguayan Richard Morales, of Nacional-URU, was frightened by the fans, who invaded training on the 5th in Gávea and caused a huge disturbance, including throwing firecrackers onto the field.\ Josiel, from Al-Wahda in the United Arab Emirates, left the negotiations well underway. However, he eventually backed out, claiming his family was adapting to the country. Playing for Paraná, the player was the top scorer in the 2007 Brazilian Championship, with 20 goals.\ The next big thing, then, was striker Ilan, from Saint-Etienne in France. However, Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, in an official statement, warned that he would not discuss any current signings, reserving information only when they were finalized.\ "Until Vágner Love calls and informs us of the Russian club's decision, we still have hope. Our position is to wait. Regarding Ilan, they haven't given me anything. Felipe's situation is practically the same as Vágner Love's. He intends to leave, but the Qatari club won't let him go. How can a club want a player to stay if he's showing dissatisfaction?" asked Michel Assef Filho in an interview with UOL Esporte.\ Since the departure of Renato Augusto, Marcinho and Souza, Flamengo has signed forwards Vandinho and Marcelinho Paraíba, as well as left-back Eltinho. \

Flamengo highlights a "full" week to recover in the Brazilian Championship

Pedro Ponzoni\ In Rio de Janeiro\

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When Flamengo defeated Vasco 3-1 on July 13th, in the 11th round of the Brazilian Championship, the Rubro-Negro took the lead with a five-point lead over the second-place team. However, when the games began midweek, coupled with the departure of some players, the team dropped down the standings and now sits in seventh. While the board is working off the field to replace the departures of Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen-GER), Marcinho (Qatar SC), and Souza (Panathinaikos-GR), the players and coach Caio Júnior are trying to organize themselves on the field. For everyone, the week without games could be very positive for the group. Flamengo doesn't play until next Sunday, against Santos, at 16 pm, at Vila Belmiro.\ This Tuesday morning, the group trained on Leblon beach in Rio de Janeiro's South Zone. Defender Dininho, midfielder Kléberson, and forward Vandinho did not participate. Another activity is scheduled for the afternoon, but this time in Gávea.\ "The week could be good not only for training, but also for the players to recover," said defender Fábio Luciano, who returns to the team after serving an automatic suspension against Atlético-PR.\ For midfielder Cristian, the period without games could be positive for Caio Júnior to be able to practice some fundamentals, which were complicated during the period with games in the middle of the week.\ "I think it's worth it for Caio to be able to work on some plays, practice tactics and shots on goal. Besides, we'll be able to rest more and have some peace of mind," he said.\ The coach, who did not give interviews on Tuesday, had previously complained about the lack of time to carry out some training sessions. \

Obina says his responsibility has increased at Flamengo

Pedro Ponzoni\ In Rio de Janeiro\

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A favorite among Flamengo fans, Obina said that the signing of forwards Vandinho and Marcelinho Paraíba will increase his responsibilities. For the forward, it's crucial to improve his performance and, therefore, maintain the trust of coach Caio Júnior.\ Vandinho, injured, scored a goal on his debut (Flamengo's 2-1 loss to Cruzeiro). Marcelinho, who was playing football in Germany, is expected to be officially presented by the end of this week.\ "I believe my responsibility has increased. I'm going to try to score goals to help our team continue in the Brazilian Championship. The time has come for the ball to start going in again," said the striker.\ Obina hasn't scored since June 29th. On that occasion, the number 18 scored both goals in Flamengo's 2-1 victory over Sport, at Ilha do Retiro, in the eighth round of the Brazilian Championship.\ Last week, the suspended striker missed the 1-0 win over Atlético-PR at Maracanã. However, next Sunday, Obina will return to the team for the match against Santos at 16 p.m. at Vila Belmiro.\ "Santos wants to escape this difficult situation (relegation zone), and a new coach always gives the players extra motivation. We need to avoid any surprises," he concluded. \ GLOBOESPORTE Ilan: Fla agrees to buy, but the athlete's father is still in disbelief at the success of the deal Kleber Leite is close to an agreement with the player. However, Saint-Etienne's asking price is keeping him away: "They turned down offers from French players," says William. Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro Ilan (in green) negotiates with Flamengo After Fracasso in negotiations with Josiel, the Flamengo turns his attention to Ilan. On Monday, the club's vice president of football, Kleber Leite, spoke with the striker and confirmed that the agreement between the parties was well underway. \ Once again, however, there's a need for a compromise between the clubs. Saint-Etienne won't offer him on loan – Cruzeiro, Grêmio, and Inter have already tried. And the French club recently rejected offers from Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain. \ "I don't know how much they want, but I keep wondering... if Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain made a purchase offer and couldn't get it, how will a Brazilian club have the money? But we'll see. Kleber told me he wants to buy. Our family really wants him back because he's been in France for four years," Ilan's father, William Dall'igna, told GLOBOESPORTE.COM by phone. \ At 27 years old, the center forward had spells at Paraná, São Paulo and Atlético-PR before playing for Sochaux and Saint-Etienne, both in France.\ Obina assures: 'Confidence is back' The striker believes that last Saturday's victory will give Fla the strength to fight again for the leadership of the Brasileirão. GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro O Flamengo occupies seventh place in the Brazilian ChampionshipInstead of focusing primarily on returning to the top four, the players have a fixed goal: to regain the lead in the competition. \ In 19 rounds, the Red-Blacks led in ten of them. However, a seven-game winless streak (two draws and five losses) hurt their campaign. A 1-0 victory over Atlético-PR was enough to get striker Obina's spirits back on track. \ "A win changes the mood. Confidence is back. We'll definitely have more peace of mind after Saturday's result to regain the top spot," says the player. \ The Bahia native missed the field last Saturday due to a suspension. He returns to the team on Sunday against Santos at Vila Belmiro. Flamengo has 31 points and is ten behind leaders Grêmio.\ Fla performs physical training on the beach Vandinho is still in the medical department and will not face Santos. GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro After two days off, the Flamengo returned to training on Tuesday morning. Under the guidance of physical trainer Ronaldo Torres, the team performed a strenuous physical activity on Leblon beach. \ The "free" week will be important for Ronaldo to restore the players' athleticism. Since the beginning of July, the Red-Black team has played on Wednesdays and Sundays, leaving them with little time for training. \ Injuries, which were previously rare, have surfaced. Forward Vandinho, with a right thigh contracture, missed training and remained in Gávea. He will be unfit to face Santos on Sunday at Vila Belmiro. \ Recovering from a dislocated right shoulder, Kleberson has improved but is also expected to return to the team next week. Dininho is doing better and is expected to participate in this afternoon's training session in Gávea.\ Vágner Love and Felipe: two soap operas end without a happy ending for Fla Michel Assef Filho returned to Rio without the striker. The midfielder was unable to secure his release from Al-Sadd. Marcelinho Paraíba arrives in Rio on Thursday. Eduardo Peixoto Rio de Janeiro Felipe trains normally at Al-Sadd For almost a month, the Flamengo worked exclusively to bring in Felipe and Vágner Love. The result of all this dedication, however, was unsatisfactory. Both negotiations failed. \ This Tuesday, midfielder Felipe returned to Doha, Qatar, after preseason training in Switzerland. He spoke with the Al-Sadd sheikh and confirmed something already expected: he would only return to Brazil in May 2009, when his contract expires. \ The defeat in the Vágner Love case is unofficial. But the evidence is strong. Flamengo's vice president of legal affairs, Michel Assef Filho, is back in Rio de Janeiro after nearly two weeks in Europe awaiting clearance from CSKA. He didn't get it. And the news... imminent agreement between the player and Everton didn't surprise him. \ "That was speculated when I was there. It's one thing for an English team to pay a fortune to sign him, another for Flamengo to make a loan offer," says Assef Filho, who still holds out hope for a turnaround:\ - I await an answer. \ The transfer window has been less than productive for Flamengo. After losing Renato Augusto, Marcinho, and Souza, the team attempted to sign Uruguayan players Richard Morales and Josiel, in addition to Love and Felipe. Both backed out due to family influence. For now, Eltinho, Vandinho, and Marcelinho Paraíba have arrived, and his presentation will be next Thursday.\

THROW

Tuka Rocha will be the driver of Flamengo's car

Pilot has already tested the 'Mobile Vulture' and it may be announced soon

Tuka Rocha was a driver for the Brazilian team in the A1GP

Hugo Perruso RIO DE JANEIRO \ \

Rodrigo Benchimol RIO DE JANEIRO \ \

Flamengo plans to soon announce Tuka Rocha as the driver for Flamengo's Formula Superleague car. Astromega, the company responsible for the team, hired the driver based on a recommendation from an engineer who had worked with him.

"We're negotiating with him. We hope to announce it soon. Maybe next week, at a press conference," confirmed Flamengo's vice president of marketing, Ricardo Hinrichsen.

LANCENET! contacted Tuka Rocha, who drove Flamengo's car in tests in Italy last week, but he was unable to speak for contractual reasons. Despite being from São Paulo, the driver is a Flamengo fan.

The new motorsport category, which brings together football clubs such as Flamengo, Corinthians, Milan, Barcelona, ​​Chelsea, will start on August 30th and 31st, at Donington Park, England.

See Tuka Rocha's profile:

Name: Christiano Rocha (Tuka Rocha)\ Date of birth: 13/12/1982 \ Born: São Paulo (SP) \ Categories: Tuka Rocha started out in karting and has been a driver for the Brazilian A1GP team. He has also raced in the South American Formula 3 Light, World Series, Superfund Euro 3000, and Italian Formula 3000 categories.\

Fábio Luciano shares his teachings for the second round

For the captain, the team needs to win direct matches and not lose points at home.

LANCEPRESS!

Against its direct competitors for the Brazilian title and a spot in the Copa Libertadores, Flamengo fared poorly. It lost five matches (Cruzeiro, Palmeiras, São Paulo, Vitória, and Cortiba) and drew one (Grêmio). This disappointing record is one of the factors that captain Fábio Luciano believes, if improved, could help the Red-Blacks perform well in the second half of the season and achieve their goals.

"The lesson from these games is that we can have an even better second half. We started well, then we had a setback. We learned a lot from that, and now we need to put together a good run," he said.

For Fábio Luciano, Flamengo also can't afford to drop points playing at home. At Maracanã this Brazilian Championship, Flamengo has won five and lost three.

"We're very close to our goal. We have to approach it seriously and with more determination. We dropped important points at home. We'll try not to stumble too much so we can reach the end in a position to fight for the title."

if (!(partnerdomain)){OAS_AD('x10');}Júnior: 'A team like the Fla of 80, only the national team'

Former Rubro-Negro player is this week's guest on Chat with Benja

LANCEPRESS!

This week's Chat with Benja features Júnior, one of the greatest left-backs in football history and the record holder for appearances for Flamengo.

The former player and commentator discussed the Brazilian national team, Flamengo, and some of Brazil's greatest football teams. Júnior also revealed to Benja that his early career goal was to play midfield, but he's grateful he was dissuaded from that idea.

"I was persuaded to play full-back. When I was in the youth team, the right-back got injured, so I came in and played for about 20 minutes, as I had good marking skills. My coach at the time advised me to play full-back to quickly move up to the senior team, as there was a lot of competition in the middle. He convinced me. Thank goodness," he explained.

Recalling his time with the victorious Flamengo team of the 80s, Júnior stated that teams like that, like Palmeiras in '94 and São Paulo in '92, will no longer exist in Brazilian football. According to Capacete, the negative prognosis is due to the speed with which promising players are sold abroad.

"The great teams are gone because promising players are sold off one after the other. To form a team like Flamengo in 80, you have to be part of the Brazilian national team," he declared.

As for the Brazilian National Team, the eternal number 5 from Gávea defended greater opportunities for Léo Moura and Juan, despite recognizing that the right-back is not in the great form he was months ago.

"Leonardo has had a significant decline. He needs Dunga to call him up more often. Juan is an extremely consistent player; you know he can be counted on," he stated.

Meeting could speed up Everton's move to Flamengo

Businessmen will try to convince the president of Paraná to release a supporter in time for the Brazilian Championship.

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Flamengo's board has already done everything it can to convince Paraná to release 19-year-old Everton. Although the midfielder has already signed a contract with Flamengo in 2009, businessmen Jatobá and Luiz Alberto will meet with Paraná's president, Aurival Correia.

There will be an effort to negotiate Everton's move to Gávea in the coming weeks. To try to convince the president, the agents will present a list of some Rubro-Negro players who could be loaned out.

Among them is goalkeeper Getúlio Vargas, who was playing for Westerlo in Belgium. Flamengo is also willing to pay Paraná a fee.

Everton is on loan to the club from Traffic. The company bought him and already arranged for him to join Flamengo in 2009. The midfielder is in Maceió, where Paraná will face CRB this Tuesday in the Brazilian Serie B championship.

Kleberson trains physically in Gávea

Flamengo player is only expected to play again against Internacional

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Kleberson is still recovering from a dislocated right shoulder, but he has already started physical training. The player, who suffered the injury during a training session at Gávea two weeks ago, did separate physical training on the field and even trained with a ball. He is not expected to play until the match against Internacional on August 24th.

Vandinho is still recovering from a right thigh injury he suffered last Wednesday against Goiás and did not train on the field. The forward is virtually out of the match against Santos this Sunday.

Flamengo: dream start and disappointment

The team manages to open up a lead, but ends up outside the top four.

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Flamengo ended the first half of the Brasileirão season with a taste of disappointment. After leading for nine rounds, they languish in seventh place. After eight wins in their first 11 games, the Rio de Janeiro club only won again last weekend.

Despite taking over Flamengo immediately after the tragic elimination from the Libertadores, when Joel Santana was still in charge, coach Caio Júnior managed to get the Rubro-Negro back on track and began a promising job at Gávea.

The campaign began to struggle when the board traded Marcinho, Renato Augusto, and Souza. The team felt the absence of these players drastically. Another factor that was felt at Gávea was the two-games-per-week streak. The team began training less and suffered a drop in performance.

The team's biggest loss was its creative department, which was lacking without the players sold. Coach Caio Júnior called for reinforcements for the position, but has yet to receive any response. In midfield, the only offensive player on the roster is young Erick Flores.

With the arrival of Marcelinho Paraíba, Flamengo will gain technical quality, especially in attacking plays. However, the team clearly still needs a true number 10 and a goal-scoring player.

Who arrived: defender Dininho; left-back Eltinho; midfielder Marcelinho Paraíba; forward Vandinho

Who left: left-back Egídio; defender Rodrigo Arroz; midfielders Marcinho and Renato Augusto; forward Souza

Debut: 3 x 1 Santos, Maracanã, May 11th.\ Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Leonardo, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Jaílton, Kleberson, Ibson and Toró; Marcinho and Souza. Coach: Caio Junior.\

Last game: 1 x 0 Atlético-PR, Maracanã, August 9th.\ Bruno, Leonardo Moura, Jaílton, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Aírton, Jônatas, Ibson and Cristian; Paulo Sérgio and Maxi. Coach: Caio Junior.\

WHAT THE EXPERTS THINK

Roberto Assaf\ The first half was fantastic, and the second half was tragic. The tragedy began after Marcinho's transfer. But I think the spirit of those who want to win the title was lacking from the start. Leonardo Moura received a yellow card for honoring his girlfriend when he scored a goal against Náutico and was ruled out of an important match against Atlético-MG. Until he has this awareness, he won't win the title.\

Flavio Garcia\ More was expected of Flamengo. The bet was that the team would finish the first half of the season at least in the top four. A mid-season dip in performance was possible, but not in the way it turned out. All the accumulated fat was thrown away after a seven-game winless streak. The transfer window abroad was the main culprit.\

if (!(partnerdomain)){OAS_AD('x10');}Obina says: 'It's hard not to have the fans' support'

Flamengo's striker, confident in the Rubro-Negro's reaction in the Brazilian Championship, hopes that the boos will no longer echo in Maracanã

Obina: 'Fans will trust the team again'

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Having failed to score for Flamengo in eleven games, Flamengo striker Obina could earn another chance in coach Caio Jr.'s starting lineup in Sunday's match against Santos at Vila Belmiro. Returning from suspension, the Black Angel wants to shine a light on Mengão's paths again, and to do so, he's counting on the return of the Flamengo fans' support.

radio l! "It's hard to see the Maracanã packed with that huge crowd booing. But now that we've won again, the fans will regain their confidence, and together, we'll return to the pinnacle of the Brazilian Championship. It's a very difficult championship, but we'll strive, step by step, to return to the top of the table," concluded Iluminado (Click and hear more).

radio l! "We ended up suffering a regrettable decline. I know that when performance drops, the pressure increases. But it's hard not to have the support of the fans, which we had at the beginning of the championship," Obina confessed (click and hear more).

A few days ago, Obina was the target of yet another form of protest from Flamengo fans, who had already been booing him during games. Fans spray-painted graffiti on one of the walls at Gávea Stadium with the words: "Out with Obina" and "Obina is Souza." Flamengo employees soon covered the graffiti with black paint.

if (!(partnerdomain)){OAS_AD('x10');}Fla will need to overcome itself to ensure success

A performance equal to that of the second round of 2007 may not be enough to secure a place in the 2009 Libertadores

Caio Jr. will have to recover the good performance of the first rounds (Credit: Paulo Sergio)

Rodrigo Cherem RIO \ \

Flamengo had a satisfactory performance, to say the least, in this first round of the Brazilian Championship, if we compare the number of points won with those of other years, in the points-based era.

The best performance in a first round, until 2008, was last year, when Flamengo secured 50,9% of the points. Even so, in the 2007 Brasileirão, Flamengo faced the specter of relegation, which was only stopped after the arrival of coach Joel Santana.

This year, if Flamengo can repeat what it did last year during the second half of the Brazilian Championship, the future could be bright. If the Red-Black team can achieve at least the same 56% success rate it achieved in 2007, it has a good chance of competing in next year's Copa Libertadores.

The title would depend on the course of the Brazilian Championship, currently led by Grêmio, the clear leader, who boasts an excellent 71,9% performance in the first half of the season. Furthermore, a spot in the Libertadores would only be guaranteed if their opponents' performance declined compared to the first half of the season.

Last year's overall performance of 53,5% was enough for Flamengo to secure third place, accumulating 61 points. This year, their overall performance could reach 55%, provided they repeat their 2007 performance in the second round.

Flamengo has a reduced number of games in its favor, with the club returning to weekend-only action. After all, since the increased frequency of matches in July, Flamengo has never been the same.

However, there's still no guarantee of a bonanza. Flamengo's future remains uncertain, even if coach Caio Jr. manages to repeat Joel Santana's feat in the last Brazilian Championship.

The table below shows the performance percentages of the top eight teams at the end of the first half of the Brazilian Championship. These numbers give an idea of ​​the pace Flamengo will have to set if it wants to finish among the top four in the championship.

Performances of the top eight:

1 - Grêmio	71 %
2 - Cruise	63 %
3 - Palm trees	59 %
4 - Sao Paulo	57 %
5 - Victory	56 %
6 - Coritiba	56 %
7 - Flamengo	54 %
8 - Botafogo	54 %

Eltinho is cleared to debut for Mengão

Left-back has gone six months without an official match

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Having not played an official match for nearly six months, left-back Eltinho, recently signed by Flamengo, is expected to make his debut for the club next Sunday. Having recovered from a serious tear in his left thigh, he has been cleared for physical training and, according to fitness coach Ronaldo Torres, is fit to play.

"He was already training. When he arrived, we evaluated him, and I thought he needed to improve his strength. We provided special support. If Caio Júnior wants to include him, that's fine," he said.

With Juan's suspension, Eltinho is the only player in his position who could replace him, as Egídio was loaned to Juventude.

Kléber Leite: 'He can only be a Vasco fan'

Flamengo's vice president of football (soccer) is ironic about the protests by some of the Flamengo fans over Ibson's departure from the team.

Kléber hit the weak point (Credit: Ricardo Cassiano)

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Some leaders of Flamengo's main fan factions are reportedly planning a petition to the board for midfielder Ibson to leave the club. Besides harassing him during games with repeated boos, these fans believe Ibson tried to prevent Jaílton from celebrating his goal against Atlético Paranaense with the fans.

When asked about the incident, vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, was ironic about this possible move against the red-black number 7.

– Anyone who calls for Ibson to leave the Flamengo team can only be a Vasco fan.

Ibson denied that he prevented Jaílton from having contact with the fans.

– My attempt was to stop Jaílton so we could celebrate together – he assured.