THE GLOBE
With an open heart for great challenges
Fla enters the decisive stretch willing to overcome the ghost of altitude and the Rio Cup
Photo caption: WITH ARMS raised, Ibson celebrates a goal during training in Gávea
Booed by the fans in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Madureira, Flamengo's supporter Ibson shouldn't be taken lightly. The ordeal Flamengo faces is a collective one. Whether in the semifinals and final of the Taça Rio or the final of the Carioca, they'll need two Sundays to celebrate their second title. Despite their comfortable position after winning the Taça Guanabara, the red-and-black team is in a hurry. The coaching staff's plan is that now is the best time for the team to expend its energy. Unlike the final matches, which can be interspersed with home-and-away matches in the Libertadores Round of XNUMX, the second-round final will take place without midweek matches.
- Now is the time to take off - declared the vice-president of football, Kleber Leite, who already won the State Championship in advance, in 1996. - For those who like football, the best part of the season starts now.
The last two days off served as a breather. Starting today in Gávea, the players enter a funnel without knowing where they'll emerge a month from now. In Sunday's derby against Vasco, the starters will be rested for the decisive match against Cienciano on the 9th, at Cusco's 3.360m altitude. With a draw in their bag, Flamengo would head back into the race to win the Taça Rio.
"It's good to have the week off to rest and make adjustments. Nobody likes to be booed, but it's always the team that determines," said Ibson.
To be strong collectively, Flamengo will prioritize fast players at altitude. According to cardiologist Serafim Borges, under these conditions, the body obtains energy through a system without the use of oxygen. Therefore, explosive muscle training, and athletes with this quality, become indispensable.
- Those with the best ability to overcome the problem will play - said Kleber.
There are other obstacles in the way. Tomorrow, Jônatas, Obina, Bruno, and Toró will be tried for expulsions and assaults committed against Botafogo. Coach Joel Santana has already expressed dissatisfaction with the referees' harshness and the mobilization of rivals to prevent the early title, which would be detrimental to the competition. Despite these concerns, Flamengo has no reason to complain.
"The subject of altitude will be off limits, only the doctor will tell," said Kleber, concerned about also exorcising the persecution mania in the Carioca. "Football has changed, nothing will stop our progress."
Renato Mauricio Prado
Ibson's permanent signing is contingent on the success of Fla-TV. Despite technical issues that made life hell for those trying to subscribe, the Flamengo online channel is the club's greatest hope for securing new funding for football.
"We changed the company responsible for this part of the software, and things are now going well. We have around 150 visits per day, and since its inception, Fla TV has been accessed by more than 19 million people. These are impressive numbers, and they lead us to believe that, now that the technical issues are overcome, the project will take off," says vice president of football, Kléber Leite.
After tomorrow's training session in Gávea, the players will be invited to a presentation about the project, of which they are "partners", as they have a 10% stake in the results.
"Once the technical issues of sales and access are resolved, we'll launch a strong advertising campaign to convert most visitors into subscribers. If everything goes well and the project takes off, I'll travel to Portugal in June to negotiate the final purchase of Ibson. That's where, and only where, the money can come from," Kleber admitted.
SPORTS JOURNAL
Back to work
After two days off, Flamengo resumes activities with an eye on Vasco and Cienciano
Nathan de Lima and Thiago Bokel
File/JS
After two days of rest, Joel Santana will begin preparing for the decisive sequence of games in both the Libertadores and Carioca
After a three-match streak against clubs considered smaller, Flamengo's trial-and-error period is over. Aware that the next three weeks could be grueling, coach Joel Santana gave the group two days off. Now the slacking off is over.
Today, when they return to training, the players will begin preparing for the Rio Cup semifinals and the match against Cienciano, for which the board is still awaiting confirmation from CONMEBOL to schedule the trip to Cusco. Flamengo was initially scheduled to leave for São Paulo early Monday afternoon and, from there, travel to Lima at 18:50 p.m., where they would stay until the day of the match, arriving in Cusco a few hours before kickoff.
Last round
But before all that, there's the derby against Vasco da Gama next Sunday. While the match isn't particularly important, as both teams have already qualified, the usual rivalry and the semifinal matchups will be at stake. The Flamengo coach has already stated that he will still consider whether to field the reserves against the Cruzmaltino club. He also isn't worried about the same thing happening in the Fla-Flu match, when he opted to rest the starters and ended up being thrashed 4-1. "We have a decisive match in the Libertadores and the final stage of the Taça Rio. We need to prepare for that. I gave them two days off to enjoy their families, because after that the marathon will be tough. This group was formed last year, and I can recall few defeats. They deserve a vote of confidence. Now, we have to prove whether they are a good enough squad to make history at Flamengo. We maintain a strong friendship, but with discipline and responsibility above all else," explained the coach.
Doubt
With the starting lineup practically set, Joel has only one question: whether to start Kleberson or Toró in midfield. Even if he fields the reserves against his biggest rival, it's quite likely that the coach will include at least one of them from the start.
Ibson's permanence depends on an agreement between Fla and Porto
File/JS
Ibson is hurt by the boos he received last Saturday against Madureira
Ibson's agent, Eduardo Uram, made it clear on Monday that it is still too early to determine the player's future. He explained that the midfielder will have to wait for the possibility of an agreement between Flamengo and Porto and that his continued presence will not depend solely on his will. Ibson's loan contract with the red-and-black club ends on June 30th, and only after that date will the parties be able to comment on the outcome of the case.
"When he arrived at Flamengo, people knew there was already a one-year term for his stay at the club. This speculation was premature, and at this point, neither Flamengo nor Porto have begun negotiations regarding the player's future. Ibson's contract ends at the end of June, and, as agreed in the loan agreement, neither party will comment on the matter before that date. All possibilities are open, but the outcome of this case will not be up to Ibson," Eduardo Uram emphasized, noting that Ibson's contract with Porto will only end in June 2011.
The agent also said that the only time Ibson was able to assert his will was when he chose to return to Brazil and Flamengo to play in the Brazilian Championship last year. The player had offers from Brazilian and international clubs, but he chose to return to the club that had developed him, even giving up financial resources.
"We need to wait and see what Porto's plans are regarding Ibson. If the Portuguese club actually agrees to negotiate with him, we'll still have to see if Flamengo will have the financial means to sign the player," Uram stated.
Mengão without fear of Boca Juniors
Coach Paulo Chupeta knows his rival in the South American Basketball League semifinals well
Pedro Ivo Almeida
After being eliminated from the Liga de las Américas in December, where they lost 77-76 to Boca Juniors in one game, Flamengo is preparing to get revenge on the Argentine team in an international competition. Coach Paulo Chupeta's team takes to the court on Thursday at La Bombonerita gymnasium for the first game of the best-of-three semifinal series of the South American Basketball League.
The match took on the air of revenge, especially after the altercation involving winger Marcelinho in the last match between the two teams. Following the altercation, the winger was automatically suspended for the following game and missed the team's decisive match against Peñarol.
Next Thursday's opponent, Boca Juniors, is a familiar face in Brazilian basketball. In 1999, when Vasco became the first Brazilian club to win the competition, the Argentine team was their opponent in the final. Playing in a packed Maracanãzinho stadium, the team, led at the time by star player Montechia, lost 76-68, finishing as runner-up.
The current team, which defeated Libertad in the quarterfinals, boasts 29-year-old power forward/center Léo Gutiérrez, an Olympic champion with Argentina in Athens in 2004. Chupeta says he's already preparing a dedicated defense with his full attention focused on the player.
"I've already spoken with the players. We know how important Gutiérrez is to Boca Juniors, and we're going to set up a special defense. We have to prevent the ball from reaching him, because all the balls we decide are either thrown or passed through his hands. He's an experienced player, an Olympic champion, and we have to be extra careful," said the coach.
Fred is in doubt
Missing Flamengo's last three matches (two in the National Championship and one in the South American Championship), point guard Fred is still doubtful for next Thursday's match. He doesn't even know yet if he will travel with the group to Argentina. The return matches will be held on April 7th and 8th in Rio.
THE DAY
Fla doesn't want Romario
Márcio Braga vetoes farewell match and striker enjoys retirement in the Caribbean
Marluci Martins
Rio - On the first day of his retirement, Romário received some unforeseen news: Flamengo had pulled out of his farewell match and wouldn't even invite him to any projects anytime soon. President Márcio Braga's wishes prevailed, as he was never keen on the idea of bringing the short man back for even a single game.
Romário did what 'Ataque' had exclusively reported in Friday's edition: yesterday, the first day of his retirement, he traveled to Curaçao, in the Caribbean, with his family and a group of friends. The trip will last 10 days, and upon his return, the striker will wait for an invitation from a club to play one or two farewell games.
He won't be wearing a Flamengo jersey. After a conversation with president Márcio Braga, vice president of football Kléber Leite, the creator of the idea, was convinced that it wasn't a good time to throw a farewell party for his former idol.
"We understand that this is not the right time for any kind of upheaval. We have the State Championship and the Libertadores. Everything is very complicated. We can't lose focus," said the director, without ruling out the possibility of throwing a celebration for Romário in the much more distant future.
Plínio Serpa Pinto, a Flamengo football contributor, was the one in charge of breaking the sad news to Romário over the phone. At the airport, the short man only said one thing: "I'm not going to say anything."
Mengão goes with lungs, mind and race
Martha Esteves
For almost a month, the red-and-black soldiers have been preparing for the battle of Cuzco. It will take a lot of stamina, heart, and mind to overcome the altitude of 3.360 meters above sea level, and the pressure to win and secure a spot in the round of XNUMX of the Copa Libertadores.
Fitness coach Ronaldo Torres will talk to Joel and suggest that the starters be rested against Vasco on Sunday, because the group will travel to Lima the following day.
"It wouldn't be good to risk losing a player to injury. And after a game, they need up to 72 hours to recover."
According to Ronaldo, the players have good respiratory capacity. But today, all will undergo a test to assess muscle power, fatigue rate, and stamina. Six 35-meter sprints will be performed at maximum speed, with a recovery time of just 10 seconds.
The fitness coach says he's been training players in the pool for almost a month. Fullback Juan has made the most progress. In his first training session, he only stayed underwater for 40 seconds. Now, he can stay underwater for up to 2:50. Fábio Luciano has the second-best progress, now able to stay underwater for up to 2:10.
Renato Augusto, who was very ill last year in Potosí (he needed to use an oxygen tank), is causing some concern because he was out of action for almost 50 days after facial surgery.
Ibson's father says: 'He loves Flamengo more than Flamengo loves him'
Mr. Laís comes to his son's defense
Rio - The ongoing saga surrounding Ibson's stay at Gávea, whose contract expires on June 30th, has yet to be finalized. But news that Ibson is keen to return to Porto (the player is currently on loan at Flamengo) has prompted the player's father, Laís Silva, to speak out in defense of his son.
Mr. Laís advocated in favor of the midfielder, taking the opportunity to criticize the red-black club:
"They said he wanted to return to Porto. He made an effort to return to Flamengo. Flamengo didn't spend anything to bring him back. They spent money on Kleberson and Jônatas. To come, Ibson had to extend his contract for another two years," he said in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
"Ibson has always given more to Flamengo than Flamengo has given to him. He loves Flamengo more than Flamengo loves him. He will give everything to be champion," Ibson's father added.
Laís revealed that Ibson had offers from other teams, but chose to return to the club that raised him:
"He lost money coming to Flamengo. He chose to come, even though the team is second to last in the Brazilian league. He could have gone to Santos, São Paulo, Werder Bremen or Olympiacos. His goal is to stay at Flamengo," he said.
The midfielder's father reiterated that the only way Ibson can stay at Flamengo is if the club buys him, as renewing the loan is virtually impossible. However, he assured that if the red-and-black team reaches the Copa Libertadores final, Ibson will be on the field.
"For him to stay, Flamengo would have to buy Ibson. He's already made his share of sacrifices. If Flamengo reaches the Libertadores final, Porto will release him. The Porto president said so," he said.
Mr. Laís also commented on Ibson's reaction to being booed in the match against Madureira, this Saturday:
"He was sad. Flamengo is already in the semifinals. The fans have to be patient. Ibson is the kind of player who grows when he plays against São Paulo, Vasco, Fluminense. When there's a need, when there's difficulty, he grows," he said.
SPORTS GAZETTE
Flamengo returns to work this Tuesday with an eye on the TJD\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo's squad will return this Tuesday after two days off. They will be working full-time. Flamengo's next match is on Sunday, when the team plays the derby against Vasco at Maracanã, in the final round of the Taça Rio. Coach Joel Santana risks being without some players for the match against Vasco, including starters and reserves. This is because on Wednesday, goalkeeper Bruno, defensive midfielder Jônatas, midfielder Toró, and forward Obina will be tried at the Rio de Janeiro Sports Court (TJD).
The four were indicted for incidents that occurred in the last classic between Rubro-Negro and Botafogo, on March 16.
On Sunday, if they can achieve at least the same result as Fluminense against Madureira, Rubro-Negro will secure first place in Group A.
Father complains about booing Ibson: “He lost money to come back”\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Champion of the Guanabara Cup, leader of its group in the Rio Cup, and in a stable position in the Copa Libertadores. Not all of these factors are enough to leave Flamengo in a calm mood. The boos directed at midfielder Ibson in the match against Madureira continue to resonate in Gávea. This Monday, the player's father and guardian, Laís Silva, expressed great anger about the situation. Ibson began to be criticized by some fans after an interview was recently published in the Portuguese press, in which the player confirmed that he would return to Porto in the middle of the year.
"It's not that Ibson wants to return to Porto. He made a colossal effort, even losing money, to return to the club he loves. Flamengo didn't spend anything to get Ibson. Quite the opposite. They spent money to get Kléberson, they spent money to get Jônatas, and they spent money to get Rodrigo," he recalled in an interview with Rádio Brasil, urging Flamengo fans to take a new stance.
"Unfortunately, we see some fans booing the player, who gave his all for Flamengo. I hope the fans have a little more patience with their idols, especially those who give their all for the club. He could have gone to Santos, São Paulo, Werder Bremen or Olympiakos Greece, but he gave it all up to return to the club he loves," he revealed.
According to the agent, however, the situation hasn't changed Ibson's intentions to remain at Gávea. "He's very sad about this situation, but he still really wants to stay at Flamengo. He knows Porto demanded his return. What's in the contract is to be fulfilled. But for Ibson, he would live forever at Flamengo," he stated.
Laís Silva also expressed some dissatisfaction with Flamengo's management's stance on the matter. Ibson's father demanded greater protection from the club's board of directors for his son in the face of criticism from some fans.
"It's not me who should come to Ibson's defense, but, like Joel, it should be Flamengo president Márcio Braga or vice president of football Kléber Leite. They know Ibson came to Flamengo without costing the club anything. Ibson simply gave an interview to a Portuguese newspaper saying he would have to return to the club. And a malicious local journalist put it differently," he emphasized.
Despite her dissatisfaction, Laís Silva still harbors small hopes that the situation can be reversed by the end of Ibson's loan, mid-year. "The only way he wouldn't return would be if Flamengo bought his federation rights. But the Porto president is passionate about Ibson, and the entire Porto coaching staff is passionate about Ibson."
In a tone of defiance, Ibson's father also assured that the midfielder will not give in to the pressure. According to Laís, the player has even reached an agreement to play in the Copa Libertadores with the Rubro-Negro, should they qualify, even though his loan spell has already ended.
"He'll give his all to win the State Championship, he'll give his all to win this Libertadores. And he's guaranteed that if he makes it to the final, Porto will release him to play in the final," he confirmed.
PELENET
Ibson's father speaks out and says Porto is waiting for the player
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Ibson's father and attorney, Laís Silva, acknowledged on Monday that the player's continued presence at Flamengo is becoming increasingly difficult. The midfielder, who plays for Porto in Portugal, is expected to return to the European club later this year.
Ibson is still hurt by boos at Fla
"The president of Porto (Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa) came to Brazil, watched Flamengo's game against Volta Redonda (on February 7), went to the locker room after the match, gave Ibson a club shirt with his name on it and said he was waiting for him back," he told Rádio Brasil.
The player has a loan contract with Flamengo until June 30th. Even so, according to Laís, the athlete could play for the club until the end of the Copa Libertadores, if the club manages to reach that stage. "The president of Porto guaranteed that he would release Ibson for the decisive stage of the South American competition," she assured.
According to Laís, after this period, there's only one way for the player to remain at Flamengo. "Kleber Leite (vice president of football) needs to convince the president of Porto to sell Ibson's federation rights to Flamengo," she stated.
Laís was upset with the boos the player received on Saturday, after Flamengo's 0-0 draw with Madureira, at Maracanã, for the Taça Rio.
"Ibson was very upset with part of the fans, but he knows that the majority of the fans like him. Flamengo didn't pay a penny to have him back," he revealed, adding.
"He could have gone to Santos, São Paulo, or Werder Bremen, who also expressed interest, but he returned because it's the only club where he's happy. Ibson always gave much more to Flamengo than he received in return," he said.
Despite this, the player's father denied that the current form will affect his performance in decisive moments. "Ibson is an athlete who always excels in crucial moments, as he did against São Paulo last year. The fans can be sure that he will give his all in the final stretch of the State Championship and the Libertadores," he assured.
The supporter's situation will only be resolved in July
Ibson's agent, Eduardo Uram, stated that the athlete's situation in relation to Flamengo will only be defined at the end of the supporter's contract with the Gávea club.
"When he arrived, people knew there was already a deadline for Ibson to stay at the club, which was one year. This speculation came prematurely, and at this point, neither Flamengo nor Porto have begun negotiations about the player's future. This will only happen after June 30th," he said.
Joel names the starting lineup against Vasco and bets on Marcinho
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Despite the decisive commitment for the Copa Libertadores da América, on the 9th, in Cusco, against Cienciano-PER, coach Joel Santana plans to field the starting players, this Sunday, against Vasco, for the State Championship.
Marcinho, the club's top scorer this season with seven goals, is expected to start alongside Souza in attack. The center forward is recovering from tendinitis in his left knee and could be fit for action this weekend.
The attacking midfielder earned the starting position for coach Joel Santana after surpassing the professional forwards Obina, a fan favorite, and Tardelli, who was signed with undisputed starting position.
"I'm happy with the confidence the coach has placed in my football. I hope to repay everyone's affection on the field," he said.
The coach's biggest problem, however, is off the field. This Wednesday, Obina, Toró, Bruno, and Jônatas will be tried by the TJD for the incidents during the match against Botafogo on the 16th.
Prosecutor André Luís Valentim has already admitted that striker Obina is the one most at risk of receiving a harsher punishment. He will be charged under Articles 253 (assault) and 254 (violent play).
Flamengo awaits Conmebol's decision, but is already planning a trip to Cusco.
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo is already planning its delegation's trip to Cusco for the Copa Libertadores match against Cienciano-PER on the 6th. This Thursday, there will be a meeting at CONMEBOL to evaluate FIFA's decision to ban games at an altitude of 2.750 meters above sea level without a minimum one-week adaptation period. Despite this, the board is already considering the possibility of playing in the city located at an altitude of 3.360 meters.
With that in mind, the club's football manager, Isaías Tinoco, is already planning the trip to Peru. According to the director, the board is awaiting CONMEBOL's decision to confirm travel logistics.
If the meeting location is confirmed, the team will depart the following Monday and arrive in Cusco seven hours before the game to avoid the effects of altitude sickness. They are scheduled to return the morning after the match.
With seven points from four games in Group 4, Flamengo will secure early qualification with a win. The team's final match in the first phase will be on the 23rd, against Coronel Bolognesi, at Maracanã.
GLOBOESPORTE
Businessman calls for calm in the Ibson case
Like Kléber Leite, Eduardo Uram also thinks it's too early to talk about renewal
The soap opera 'Who Will Get Ibson?' is currently showing and is harming the player.
Ibson's contract with Flamengo ends on June 31st. But three months before, the situation made headlines and resulted in losses for the player. News about the matter is circulating daily in Portugal and Brazil, and the midfielder himself admitted he's anxious.
This sentiment, coupled with inconsistent performances, led some of the Flamengo fans to question him in the last game. The result was the first boos. This Monday, Ibson's agent, Eduardo Uram, echoed Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, and called for calm.
"When he arrived at Flamengo, people knew he already had a one-year contract. This speculation was premature, and at this point, neither Flamengo nor Porto have initiated negotiations about the player's future. All possibilities are open, but the outcome of this case will not be up to Ibson," the agent states.
According to GLOBOESPORTE.COM, Porto will likely sell Argentine Lucho Gonzalez in June and intends to replace Ibson. His return for the preseason is considered certain, and a new loan is practically unfeasible. To keep the player, Flamengo would have to pay the R$10 million release clause.
For father, Fla doesn't love Ibson so much
Laís Silva defends her son again and warns that the player's sacrifice quota has come to an end.
Ibson never leaves the Flamengo headlines
Just as she did last Saturday, Laís Silva, the father of midfielder Ibson, has once again positioned herself as the Flamengo player's lawyer. According to her, Ibson said that, by contract, he would have to return to Porto mid-year and never stated at any point that this was his wish.
"But they said he wanted to return to Porto. He made an effort to return to Flamengo. The club didn't spend anything to bring him back. They spent money on Kleberson and Jônatas. To come, Ibson had to extend his contract for another two years," Laís told "Rádio Brasil."
He also said that Ibson had offers from other clubs, but preferred the club that created him.
"He lost money coming to Flamengo. He chose to come, even though the team is second to last in the Brazilian league. He could have gone to Santos, São Paulo, Werder Bremen, or Olympiacos. His goal is to stay at Flamengo."
However, Laís commented that the only possibility of Ibson remaining is if the club buys him. Renewing the loan is virtually impossible. But she stated that if the Rubro-Negro reaches the Copa Libertadores final, Ibson will be on the field.
"For him to stay, Flamengo would have to buy his economic rights. He's already made his share of the sacrifice. If Flamengo reaches the Copa Libertadores final, Porto will release him. The Porto president said so," he declares.
Repudiation of boos
The midfielder's father also spoke of Ibson's irritation at being booed in the match against Madureira.
"He was sad. The team is in the semifinals. The fans have to be patient. Ibson is the kind of player who thrives when he plays against São Paulo, Vasco, Fluminense... When he's in need, when he's in difficulty, he thrives. Ibson has always given more to Flamengo than Flamengo has given him. He loves Flamengo more than the other way around. He'll give everything to be champion," he says.
remember
At the end of November, in an interview with GLOBOESPORTE.COM, Ibson spoke about his passion for Flamengo.
"If I could stay until the end of my career, I would be extremely proud. This is my home, where I grew up and spent my childhood and adolescence. To play for Flamengo, you have to love this club," he said at the time.
Fla has not yet decided on a trip to Cuzco
The board awaits CONMEBOL's decision. But logistics include travel on match day.
Eduardo Peixoto
Fla had a hard time in Potosí
Flamengo is awaiting CONMEBOL's official position on high-altitude matches before confirming its trip to Cuzco. A meeting will be held on April 3rd to discuss FIFA's recommendation to ban matches above 2.750 meters without an acclimatization period.
According to the Copa Libertadores schedule, Flamengo faces Cienciano on April 9th at 3.360 meters above sea level. According to the Peruvian press, CONMEBOL is unlikely to change the schedule. Even so, the Rio de Janeiro board prefers to wait.
- We have travel logistics, but it will only be confirmed on the 3rd. That is, if the game is actually in Cuzco - says Flamengo's football manager, Isaías Tinoco.
The red-and-black team's schedule sees them depart for São Paulo early Monday afternoon. From there, they'll catch a flight to Lima at 18:50 PM. They'll arrive in the Peruvian capital at 21 PM local time.
Because the club's doctors and physiologists believe it's best to reach altitude on match day, the Flamengo delegation will train in Lima on Tuesday and arrive in Cusco at 12:45 p.m. local time. That's seven hours before kickoff. They'll return the following morning.
Previously opposed to going to Cuzco, Fla's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, changed his tune.
- We have to go out there and play, no excuses - he says.
In second place in Group 4, with seven points, Flamengo guarantees early qualification if they win the game.
In 2007, Flamengo faced the nearly 4.000-meter Potosí course and suffered. All the players required oxygen tanks. After the incident, the board launched a FIFA crusade against games over 2.750 meters. So far, the victory has not yet materialized into an advantage for the team.
THROW
Ibson's permanence will be decided in June
The businessman highlights the effort the player made to return to Gávea
Ibson's future far from resolved (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
LANCEPRESS!
Ibson's stay at Flamengo will only be finalized after June 30th, the date on which the player's loan contract with the club expires. The club will have to reach an agreement with Porto-POR. Eduardo Uram, the Flamengo number 7's agent, has guaranteed this.
"When he came to Flamengo, people knew there was already a one-year term for his stay at the club. This speculation was premature, and at this point, neither Flamengo nor Porto have begun negotiations about the player's future. Ibson's contract ends at the end of June, and as agreed in the loan agreement, neither party will comment on the matter before that date," stated Eduardo Uram, adding that Ibson's contract with Porto will only end in June 2011.
The agent assured that the only opportunity Ibson exercised his will was upon his return to Brazil and Flamengo to compete in the Brazilian Championship last year. The player was approached by Santos and São Paulo, as well as some clubs abroad.
"We need to wait to see what Porto's plans are regarding Ibson. If the Portuguese club actually agrees to negotiate with him, we'll still have to see if Flamengo will have the financial means to sign the player," Uram stated.
Flamengo faces Madureira for the juniors
Rubro-Negro leads Group A of the Rio Cup with 16 points
LANCEPRESS!
Leader of Group A of the Rio Cup with 16 points, Flamengo's youth team returns to the field this Tuesday to face Madureira, at 16 pm, at Conselheiro Galvão Stadium.
Rubro-Negro's opponent in the semifinal is still undecided, but Botafogo, Resende, Americano, Cabofriense and Madureira have a chance of qualifying.
Whoever wins the Rio Cup will face Fluminense, champion of the Guanabara Cup, in the final of the Carioca Junior Championship.
Juan is Flamengo's assists champion this year
Left-back has already provided eight assists for red-black goals in 2008
Juan is one of the key players in Joel's scheme (Credit: Gilvan de Souza)
Cassius Leitão IN RIO
One of Flamengo's most consistent players this season, left-back Juan has also stood out for his number of assists in 2008. Of the 44 goals scored by Flamengo this year, eight of them came from the feet of the number 6 from Gávea.
He is the one who has provided the most assists out of the entire squad, followed by Leonardo Moura, who has exactly half the number of assists: four.
The most impressive thing about this data is that of Flamengo's last six goals, four came from Juan's plays. The person who benefited most from the full-back's skill was midfielder Marcinho, who scored three of those goals. The other was converted by center forward Souza.
In addition to these frequent decisive participations, Juan has already scored three goals this year (against Cardoso Moreira, América and Volta Redonda – all of them in the Campeonato Carioca – and has been a constant figure in the main attacking plays of the scheme set up by coach Joel Santana.
Joel: 'For Vasco and Flamengo, even currency is worth it'
Coach still has doubts for the classic against the rival
LANCEPRESS!
The only thing the derby against Vasco in the final round can determine is each team's standings and, consequently, their matchups in the Taça Rio semifinals. But coach Joel Santana knows that when it comes to the rival from Colina, things are always different.
– For Vasco and Flamengo, even currency is worth it – joked Joel.
The coach still has some doubts about the match. The ones that concern him most are the judgment of the players involved in the brawl against Botafogo in the fourth round.
"I have doubts about one player or another, and that depends on how we play: 95% are ready. We'll also depend on this judgment (of Bruno, Obina, Toró, and Jônatas). I'll have a decision by Wednesday or Thursday," Joel assured.
Joel still asks for patience with Kleberson
Coach praises the five-time champion as having a lot to give to Flamengo
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One of Flamengo's key signings this season, midfielder Kleberson has yet to live up to expectations since arriving at Gávea. In 13 appearances for the club, he has scored just one goal and provided one assist.
Kleberson's lack of impressive numbers doesn't bother coach Joel Santana, who still believes the five-time champion for the national team can shine in the red-and-black shirt.
"He hasn't played for a long time. He's only been training. He struggled in Türkiye and England. He's joining a team that already has a certain style of play, but he's improving with each match," he declared.
Juan: 'Pre-season helped me a lot'
Player believes he is 'flying' due to training
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Flamengo left-back Juan is enjoying a great run of form at Flamengo. He attributes this positive momentum to the team's preseason.
"The preseason helped me a lot. That's why I'm living this great moment," he told SporTV's Bem, Amigos program.
Thiago Sales hopes to play another Fla x Vasco
Defender had a good record in the classic in the youth categories
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Joel Santana has not yet confirmed that he will use the reserves in the derby against Vasco, but defender Thiago Sales, if selected, is confident in his good record against the rival.
In 2007, while still playing for the Flamengo youth team, Thiago Sales scored in the final at São Januário Stadium. Flamengo defeated Vasco 1-0.
"I scored the goal there. It was very exciting, but Joel hasn't said anything yet about this Sunday's match. If I play and score another goal against Vasco, I'd be very happy," said the young defender.
Another special match for the defender was the preliminary round of the Flamengo-Vasco derby, in which Romário nearly scored the thousandth goal of his career. In the preliminary round, Flamengo defeated Vasco.
"That day was really good. We won the preliminary round 4-1 and I even scored a goal," he concluded.