The Globe

FLA PRESENTS IBSON

This afternoon, Flamengo will present midfielders Ibson, on loan from Porto until 2008, and Cristian, who was traded for Claiton to Atlético-PR. The club announced that Souza will indeed be fined for indiscipline.

Sports Journal

Red-blacks, unite!

Club creates project to integrate and reward fans from all over Brazil

Leo Schabbach

Flamengo fans gather at a bar during Flamengo games. They want to turn the place into a Flamengo embassy.

The Nação Rubro-Negra project is energizing Flamengo's organized fan groups across the country. Aiming to unite fans across Brazil and reward those who gather to watch the games, the project has won the support of the fans.

"It's a very worthwhile initiative, as it brings the board closer to us, and that's what's needed most. Fla-BH fully supports the project," said Allison, one of the coordinators of the Minas Gerais fan club.

And even in Rio, the idea has been very well received. Vitinho, president of the Urubuzada fan club, also praised the project and emphasized its importance for Flamengo.

"I think the idea is important and interesting. They're trying to unite fans, especially those who live outside of Rio. We approve of the idea and will help in any way we can, because this is what Flamengo needs," he said.

However, the project aims to not only unify the Flamengo fans spread across the country. It also seeks to support fans who attend the stadium and, as visitors, are often treated unfairly. The club's director of special projects, Mario Cruz, who heads the Nação Rubro-Negra program, explained the situation, using the Flamengo-Atlético-MG match at Mineirão as an example.

"We saw the difficulties Flamengo-BH faced. The space they provided for fans wasn't ideal, and everything was sold at a higher price. Therefore, Flamengo intends to improve this situation institutionally," he stated.

Within the project, there is a third goal: the creation of "Rubro-Negras Embassies" in other states. To achieve this, the idea is to select a few bars where Rubro-Negras fans meet to create a more atmospheric and themed atmosphere.

"In Belo Horizonte, for example, there's a huge bar in a square where fans often meet. So we plan to turn it into a sort of Flamengo embassy," said Mario Cruz.

Flamengo will have a cultural center

Within the idea of ​​participating more effectively in society as an institution, two projects, still under development, stand out at the club: New Generations and Casa de Cultura. The first seeks to create an institute to care for underprivileged children, removing them from at-risk areas by encouraging sports. The second also aims to help less affluent communities, but with an emphasis on promoting culture.

Novas Gerações will be developed in partnership with UNESCO and, although still linked to Flamengo, will have independent management and its own headquarters. Its goal, in the words of Lysias Augusto Itapicurú, special advisor to the Flamengo presidency, is to make the club "not just a football institution, but a national institution. The idea is to foster citizenship through sport."

The Casa de Cultura project follows this same principle. It will be developed at Flamengo's headquarters in Gávea and will operate primarily in the favelas of Rocinha, Vidigal, and Cruzada São Sebastião.

Details are being discussed, and the goal is for the Cultural Center to open by the end of the year, ideally on October 12th, Children's Day. It will be open every day except weekends and will include five different teaching modules (visual and performing arts, instrumental music, singing, and computer science).

Fla-Sesi Project sends underprivileged children to preschools

The Fla-Sesi school project can help Flamengo join two very important initiatives: FIFA's Latin America initiative, which provides and sends resources to clubs that work to promote citizenship, and Timemania, the club lottery.

This could happen because one of the main goals of the Flamengo project is to serve underprivileged children who are demonstrably in school. Even Timemania and the FIFA project require participating clubs to have social initiatives, and Flamengo, with Fla-Sesi, now falls under these standards and can benefit from this.

Fla-Sesi is a partnership between the club and Sesi-Firjan, which began in 2004, and seeks, through sport (schools) three objectives: to reveal athletes to the football department, to serve underprivileged children (20% of enrolled students) and to strengthen ties with its huge fan base.

Currently, the project occupies only five SESI units (Nova Iguaçu, Honório Gurgel, Bonsucesso, Barra Mansa, and Paciência). However, further growth is expected in the coming years, especially since the plan is to expand the initiative to SESI units throughout Brazil. It's no surprise that six more are expected to open soon, in São Gonçalo, Resende, Santo Antônio de Pádua, Campos, Itaperuna, and Friburgo.

So far, the project has referred 40 athletes to the football department, 32 of whom have been federated. Furthermore, the new players developed through this initiative are solely linked to the club, without any interference from agents.

Flamengo travels to Minas Gerais this Tuesday

On the 17th, the red-and-black squad will travel to Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, to prepare for the match against Paraná at Parque do Sabiá Stadium. The team will depart at 12:45 PM from Santos Dumont Airport. Arrival is scheduled for 16 PM. The team is also scheduled to train at the stadium at 18:30 PM.

Leo Moura close to returning to Flamengo team

As expected, right-back Leonardo Moura was unable to participate in the training match against Olaria at Ninho do Urubu. However, it's highly likely he'll return to the team for the match against Paraná at Parque do Sabiá. If he's unfit to play, Luizinho will be his substitute.

Claiton's departure from Flamengo confirmed

The swap deal between Flamengo and Atlético-PR has been confirmed. Midfielder Cristian is another arrival to bolster the team. Meanwhile, Claiton, who hasn't performed as expected since his signing, will reinforce Atlético's squad in an attempt to return to strong performances.

O Dia

The brightness of the new star, Jade

The best Brazilian in artistic gymnastics goes after gold in the individual competition

Rio - In a single day, Jade Barbosa overcame two of her fears and enchanted a crowd. The shy 16-year-old, then unknown to the fans, made the stands of the packed Autódromo Complex Arena learn and chant names other than those of Daiane dos Santos, Daniele Hypólito, and Laís Souza.

The best Brazilian gymnast in the team event qualified in second place for the individual all-around final, faced questions from journalists and today at 16 pm will fight for the second podium spot, alongside Laís and Daniele.

Jade couldn't have presented a better calling card. She earned the respect of her fans after her floor exercise performance. She achieved a better score than Daniele, the 2001 world runner-up, and also surpassed Daiane, the 2003 world champion.

Minutes after Saturday's race ended, messages on her social networking site page multiplied. She received praise from people she knew and even more from those who declared themselves fans and asked to be her friends. She even received a marriage proposal.

The adjective 'perfect' was constant. "I'm so happy. I felt like crying, but I held it back. For us young gymnasts, giving our best to help the team is already satisfying. I really enjoyed my competition, as I've never done it in front of such a large crowd at home. I want to follow in the footsteps of Daiane and Daniele, who, with great effort, led the team to the Olympics. I want to bring home lots of medals," said Jade.

The Flamengo gymnast's performance comes as no surprise to the coaching staff. Earlier this month, coach Nadia Ostapenko had already told 'Ataque' that a high-level performance was expected from the Olympic debutant on all apparatus: "Jade has the potential to be ranked between first and sixth in the world in competitions like the World Championships and the Olympics."

Claiton leaves Flamengo. Cristian arrives

Negotiations with Atlético Paranaense are already closed

Rio - Flamengo midfielder Claiton is packing his bags to leave. The Gávea club has agreed to sign Cristian, a Copa do Brasil champion with the Paulista in 2005, and Claiton has been involved in negotiations with Atlético Paranaense.

Claiton's arrival will bolster Atlético's midfield, a sector that has been a concern for coach Antônio Lopes, who has Ferreira as his main player. Lopes wants more experience in the area so he isn't limited to just one player.

Ferreira was absent from Atlético-PR for seven rounds while playing for the Colombian national team in the Copa América, which worried Lopes.

In these seven games, the club won only 5 points and had a 25% success rate, a factor that made Lopes celebrate Colombia's elimination from the continental competition and thus be able to count on Ferreira before the scheduled date.

Leonardo Moura is doubtful against Paraná

Coach Ney Franco has not yet defined the team

Rio - With a problem in his left thigh, right-back Leonardo Moura is yet to be confirmed for the match against Paraná next Thursday in Uberlândia at the Parque do Sabiá Stadium. As a result, coach Ney Franco has yet to name his starting lineup for the Brazilian Championship clash.

In the training match against Olaria, the formation chosen by the commander was: Bruno, Luizinho, Rodrigo Arroz, Thiago and Juan; Jailton, Paulinho, Léo Medeiros and Léo Lima; Paulo Sérgio and Leonardo.

The club's coaching staff expects Leonardo Moura to return to training this Monday. Otherwise, Luizinho will remain on the team. In midfield, Renato Augusto, who represented the Brazilian national team at the U-20 World Cup in Canada, is expected to return. In attack, a more severe punishment for Souza has not yet been ruled out after he abandoned training.

In midfield, Neymar hopes to count on Renato Augusto, who returned to Brazil this Friday after participating in the U-20 World Cup. Additionally, there is uncertainty in attack, as Neymar awaits a decision on the Souza case, who abandoned training and will be fined by the board.

Regarding Obina's return, Ney Franco is cautious. He believes the player can't be put in without being fully fit.

"We have to be careful when putting Obina in the game against Paraná because the intensity and wear and tear are greater. I expect him to be in the starting eleven on Tuesday. The decision will be made on Tuesday," he said.

Sports Gazette

Flamengo agrees to swap Clayton for Cristian

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - The romance between the boards of Flamengo and Atlético-PR ended in marriage and the clubs agreed, this Sunday, to exchange midfielders. Clayton, who had not been used much by Ney Franco at Gávea, will now defend the team of 'Delegado' Antônio Lopes, while Cristian will arrive at Gávea.

Both will be on loan at the teams until the end of the year. "Antônio Lopes talked to me and told me how important I would be to his team," Clayton told Rádio Globo.

Cristian, 24, arrives in Rio de Janeiro with the status of champion of the 2005 Copa do Brasil. At the time, the midfielder defended Paulista, from Jundiaí, which beat Fluminense in the final.

Ney Franco has doubts about defining the team\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Coach Ney Franco admitted that he still has some doubts about defining Flamengo's lineup for Thursday's match at 20:30 p.m. against Paraná Clube at the Parque do Sabiá stadium in Uberlândia (MG). The coach hopes to be able to count on right-back Leonardo Moura this Monday, who is recovering from a right thigh injury and was rested from the last few activities, including Saturday's training match against Olaria.

The coach intended to use this training session to define the team, but he also found himself frustrated by the situation involving striker Souza, who left the field angry after seeing some of his friends blocked at the door of the club's training center.

The athlete will be fined, but his contract will not be terminated. Even so, he remains in doubt for Thursday. If Souza is suspended by the board and unable to play, Neymar is expected to field Paulo Sérgio and Leonardo up front, as he prefers Obina to remain on the bench.

The one who will reappear is midfielder Renato Augusto, who was serving the Brazilian under-20 team, which competed in the category's World Cup, in Canada.

"On Tuesday, I'll name the 18 players who will travel with us for the match against Paraná Clube. Then I'll have a finalized lineup for the field," Ney said.

PeléNet

For Ney Franco, with Roger, Flamengo is a candidate for the title

The signing of midfielder Roger, who had been "on the sidelines" at Corinthians for three months, excited Flamengo coach Ney Franco. According to the coach, with the new addition, the red-and-black team becomes a contender for the Brazilian Championship title.

"He's a great player, who arrives to help us close out our 2007 season. We didn't win the Libertadores, but we're state champions and we hope to close out the season with the Brazilian title," commented Flamengo's manager.

Despite Ney Franco's optimism, the club is far from the title. With just eight points, the Gávea team sits third-to-last in the table, in the relegation zone.

However, Ney Franco is keen to point out that his team has two games in hand. Because of the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Flamengo's matches against Juventude and Fluminense were postponed.

"Flamengo is in a difficult situation and he [Roger] will be very important in helping us. We're still fighting for the title. We have games in hand and, if we get a few more points, we'll jump to the top of the table," predicted Ney Franco.

Flamengo reaches an agreement with Atlético-PR and swaps Claiton for Cristian

After signing Argentine striker Maxi Biancucchi, midfielder Íbson, and midfielder Roger, Flamengo has finalized the deal for midfielder Cristian, who was at Atlético-PR. In return, the red-and-black team will loan Claiton to the Paraná club.

Both players were underperforming on their teams, and only a salary agreement was needed between Claiton and the Paraná board for the deal to be finalized. Both will be on loan at the teams until the end of the year.

"Antônio Lopes [Atlético-PR coach] spoke to me and told me about the importance I would have on his team. I know my work at Flamengo is being done well, but unfortunately, things didn't flow as I had hoped," Claiton commented last Saturday on Rádio Globo.

At 24, midfielder Cristian joins his third club. Before joining Rio de Janeiro and Paraná, he played for Paulista (SP), where he began his career and won the Copa do Brasil in 2005, a feat that brought him to national prominence.

Claiton was controversially signed by Flamengo at the end of last year, while he was at Botafogo. This happened after he excelled in the Brazilian Championship that season, but he failed to establish himself as a starter, despite wearing the captain's armband in a few matches.

BalloonSport

Rodrigo Arroz: 'The world goes around'

Overlooked in 2007, the red-black defender celebrates his starting spot against Paraná

Rodrigo Arroz confesses sadness over lack of opportunities at Fla

Defender Rodrigo Arroz will return to the Flamengo starting lineup for next Thursday's Brazilian Championship match against Paraná. With Ronaldo Angelim and Irineu suspended, the defender gets another chance and hopes to return to his role, having not had a chance to start since March 18th, in the match against Volta Redonda in the Campeonato Carioca.

"I'm a little sad to be out. The world changes; one moment we're good and the next we're bad. The important thing is to be prepared, and I always have been," says the defender, who was wanted by Fortaleza but chose to stay at Gávea.

The opportunity to play comes to Rodrigo Arroz precisely at a time when Flamengo's defense appears to have found its feet. Against São Paulo and Atlético-MG, even away from home, the team only conceded one goal.

"We played two good games against Atlético and São Paulo. We didn't concede a goal against São Paulo and significantly lowered our average. We have good players, and Neymar is well-served in defense," praises Arroz, who will form the defense with Thiago.

Claiton is loaned to Atlético-PR

Involved in the negotiation, midfielder Cristian will report to Fla this Monday

Rafael Cardoso

Claiton regrets another goal conceded by Flamengo

Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, confirmed to GLOBOESPORTE.COM by phone that midfielder Claiton has been loaned to Atlético-PR. Negotiations with the Paraná club also include the arrival of defensive midfielder Cristian to the Rio de Janeiro club, also on loan. He will report to Gávea this Monday at 8:30 a.m.

Claiton arrived at Flamengo on December 19, 2006, from rival Botafogo. He signed a contract until the end of 2008. If a final negotiation with a club were reached, Flamengo would receive 30% of the R$2,5 million release clause. Flamengo would receive the remaining 30%, and the player would receive 40%.

The player has had a difficult time this season, spending a significant amount of time on the bench at Flamengo. He also became embroiled in a controversy with coach Ney Franco after the 4-0 loss to Figueirense in the Brazilian Championship. Claiton was dropped from the following game and complained of harassment.

At Atlético, Claiton's arrival will strengthen the midfield, a sector that has given coach Antônio Lopes many headaches.

Ney Franco only defines team on Tuesday

Possible returns of Renato Augusto and Obina leave the coach with some doubts

Obina scored two goals in a training match against Olaria and could return on Thursday

Coach Ney Franco has not yet defined Flamengo's formation for the game against Paraná, next Thursday, at Parque do Sabiá, in Uberlândia, for the Brazilian Championship.

The team for the training match against Olaria, this Saturday, was as follows: Bruno, Luizinho, Rodrigo Arroz, Thiago and Juan; Jailton, Paulinho, Leo Medeiros and Leo Lima; Paulo Sérgio and Leonardo.

However, some doubts are lingering in the coach's mind. Right-back Leo Moura, with a right thigh problem, did not participate in training but is expected to return on Monday.

In midfield, Neymar hopes to count on Renato Augusto, who returned to Brazil this Friday after participating in the U-20 World Cup. Additionally, there is uncertainty in attack, as Neymar awaits a decision on the Souza case, who abandoned training and will be fined by the board.

Ney's other uncertainty is about the return of Obina, who has recovered and scored two goals in the training match against Olaria.

"We have to be careful about putting Obina in the game against Paraná, because the intensity and wear and tear are greater. I expect him to be in the starting lineup. The decision will be made on Tuesday," said Ney Franco.

The team will train at Parque do Sabiá on Tuesday in Uberlândia.

Throw

Flamengo signs midfielder Cristian from Atlético-PR

Claiton agrees on salary bases and goes to Furacão until the end of the year

Cristian will stay at Flamengo until the end of the year. The trade involved Claiton (Credit: EFE/Garcia Lopes)

Rafael Ximenes and Rodrigo Benchimol

Flamengo signed midfielder Cristian, who was playing for Atlético-PR, this Sunday. The athlete, who joins Flamengo in exchange for Claiton, who plays in the same sector, will stay with the club until the end of the year.

Negotiations had been ongoing throughout the week, and this Saturday, LANCENET! had already reported that midfielder Claiton was very close to the Paraná club. All that remained was a salary agreement between the player and Furacão, and that happened this Sunday. Claiton was earning R$65, while Atlético's salary cap was R$45.

The midfielder had stated that he received an invitation from Atlético coach Antônio Lopes. The player will return to football in the south of the country.

Cristian won the Copa do Brasil with Paulista in 2005, but was a reserve for Furacão. He will now be eligible to play in the Brazilian Championship.

Published on 15/7/2007 at 11:00

Ibson arrives at Fla thinking about the Brazilian National Team

Player says he will have more chances to shine by returning to play 'at home'

RAFAEL XIMENES AND RODRIGO BENCHIMOL

Flight 0177 from Lisbon arrived two hours late at Rio de Janeiro International Airport this Saturday, bringing hope to the Flamengo fans. Exhausted after nearly ten hours of travel, Ibson disembarked happy to have fulfilled his dream of returning to Flamengo.

Accompanied by his father, Laís Silva, who helped negotiate the loan from Porto until June 30, 2008, the midfielder brought a lot of baggage with him. The change of scenery, he says, won't be a problem. After all, he was born and raised at Gávea. Adapting to the club won't pose any challenges.

– I'm going home – summarized Ibson, who had been advised not to give an interview, as he will be officially presented this Monday, at 16 pm, in Gávea.

Five months pregnant, his wife Cíntia anxiously awaited him with the rest of the family—Ibson's mother, Dona Regina, his grandmother Dona Célia, and his cousin Luiz. Cíntia was the first to run to hug her husband. She took the opportunity to announce their son's name.

"We already know the baby is a boy. We just don't know if he'll be called Ibson Júnior or Ibson Filho," his wife joked, happy with the player's return to Flamengo.

LANCE! was still able to speak a little more with Ibson, who, in his reception, already began to experience the atmosphere he will find upon returning to Flamengo.

– You have to come back and help fix this team that lives in the relegation zone – said a taxi driver who recognized him.

With his usual grace, Ibson gave the driver a smile and continued on his way. He was only stopped, without fail, to sign a few autographs and reveal his main goal in returning to the club that nurtured him and sold him for two million euros in 2005, to Porto.

"I want to develop my work and help Flamengo. But I dream of being called up to the national team. If I do well at Flamengo, which is a great showcase, anything can happen," said Ibson, who was on Porto coach Jesualdo Ferreira's release list.