The Globe
Armed defense against purchase proposals
Flamengo's board rejects offers and works to keep Renato and Juan at the club
Flamengo's strong point in 2007, as demonstrated by the 3-1 away victory over Goiás, the left wing deserves the protection of the defensive midfielders and the board. Vice-president of football Kleber Leite is already intensifying negotiations to renew midfielder Renato's contract for three years, while also resisting Spanish pressure on full-back Juan.
Renato, 28, has a contract with Flamengo and is under contract until the end of this year. The board intends to extend his contract for another three years. Cláudio Guadagno, the player's agent, has already been to Rio to learn about Flamengo's offer. The potential obstacle is potential European interest—the current release clause is US$4 million (approximately R$8 million).
"We don't want a short contract. There's only one chance Renato won't stay at Flamengo: a crazy offer from abroad," said Kleber Leite.
A player with a strong personality, who caused problems when arguing in Uruguay and fell out when he was prevented from training, Renato is praised by Ney Franco:
- He's the kind of player any coach would love. He performs a variety of roles and is giving his all in training.
While trying to keep Renato, the board is resisting the pressure on Juan, whose contract runs until the end of 2008. Yesterday, a businessman linked to Spanish football contacted Kleber Leite, who quickly cut off the conversation.
"It's out of the question. The only option is to pay the fine," said Kleber.
Ney Franco wants the team to play more regularly
In Gávea, no one believes that Ney Franco wants to change the 3-6-1 formation he used to win against Goiás when he faces Botafogo on Sunday at Maracanã. But the coach has a more complicated mission than just choosing a formation. He needs to bring consistency to the team.
"I have to find that consistency. You can't play two good matches and then fall off. It takes practice and conversation," Ney explained.
In 2007, the best red-black performances were preceded by failures - Madureira, Botafogo, Defensor, Palmeiras.
"Botafogo has one of the best teams. But if we play our game, we can win," he said.
Renato Mauricio Prado
And Flamengo? They won with authority, but their rival's weakness still raised doubts. They'll play off Botafogo on Sunday.
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John Areosa
Fla inspired
I write that Flamengo came out inspired, and I'll add: they also played organized and with their blood boiling. Goiás didn't see the ball—and if they did, they didn't quite grasp what round object was bouncing and rolling, controlled by the red-and-black feet of the Serra Dourada.
"Did the scheme work?" asks the fan. "We're in a country where all sorts of schemes tend to work, especially those that are harmful to this poor-rich Brazil. As for the tactical scheme, yes, it worked."
Flamengo's wingers, Leonardo Moura and Juan, made the difference. They left Goiás in a terrible predicament, as they say these days. The three center-backs provided security, the midfield strengthened with Paulinho's vigilance, and things happened. With a proper olé, I hasten to tell you.
And more than that: I can't recall a single red-and-black player who performed poorly. Even the much-maligned Claiton (or Clayton, I never know) hit a round ball and ran like hell.
A good performance from Flamengo, one of the best I've seen in recent months. A performance worthy of that stadium, which looked more like a Flamengo stadium than an arena in Goiás.
Sports Journal
Renato, from Flamengo, will receive the title of Rio de Janeiro citizen
A Paulista recruited in 2005, the supporter is a symbol of grit. A councilman will pay tribute to him in Rio.
Leo Schabbach and Thiago Bokel
Supporter Renato, one of Flamengo's key players in recent seasons, is about to receive another award in his career. For all the identification he has shown with the red-and-black club and the state of Rio de Janeiro in recent years, he is expected to receive, by the start of the Pan American Games, the title of Carioca citizen, granted by the Rio City Council.
The project was suggested by Councilman Jorge Mauro (PRTB), who explained why the player deserves such an honor. "He deserves the title because of the strong connection he has with the fans and the fans have with him. Furthermore, Renato is a bellwether for Flamengo. When he plays well, the team plays well; when he plays poorly, the team plays poorly."
And indeed, that's an excellent definition. The best proof of this is that last year, the player was one of the leaders in winning the Copa do Brasil and, through his physical strength and powerful shot from outside the box, scored numerous goals, including some from free kicks, which earned him the team's top scorer award that season. His strong performances led to him being awarded the best left midfielder in the Brazilian Championship and being voted the tournament's best player by popular vote, despite Flamengo not finishing among the top teams in the competition.
This year, Renato has already won the Guanabara Cup and the Campeonato Carioca with the club. He's also been putting in excellent performances, such as in the last round against Goiás, when he delivered a superb trivela pass for Juan to score Flamengo's second goal.
For Sunday's derby against Botafogo at the Maracanã, he is the Rubro-Negro's great hope, as, in addition to being in good form, he usually plays well and scores goals for the black and white team. While playing for Flamengo, he scored four goals in total against Botafogo. Some of them were crucial, such as a penalty in the first leg of the Campeonato Carioca final.
Fla will only have its lineup announced on game days
From now on, Flamengo's lineups for the Brazilian Championship will only be released at the last minute of matches. With this measure, coach Ney Franco hopes to make his job easier and avoid creating problems for the press.
"We have seven training sessions, and I'll only release the lineup on match day. Last week, I released a lineup for you (journalists), but I ended up changing it at the last minute. Therefore, I won't release the team again during the week," the coach explained.
All the confusion arose because, in Flamengo's last game, against Goiás, at Serra Dourada, Ney had confirmed Léo Medeiro, who had trained with the starters all week, but ended up opting for Paulinho to come in.
Claiton is doubtful for the classic
Flamengo could have a serious absence for Sunday's derby against Botafogo. Midfielder Claiton left the field during the match against Goiás complaining of pain in his left thigh. The player underwent an MRI yesterday, which revealed a strain. He began intensive treatment to ensure he's fit to play. The injury couldn't have come at a worse time, just as Claiton was ramping up his performance and starting to establish himself in the starting lineup.
Claiton also revealed that if the match were today, he wouldn't be able to take the field because he still feels a lot of pain in the injured area. "Just when things were starting to go well for me, when I was feeling more comfortable on the field, I suffered this injury. I'll do everything I can to be 100% on Sunday because I really want to play in the match against Botafogo," said the former captain of the red-and-black team.
The match has a special meaning for the player, after all, Claiton left Botafogo at the end of last year in a turbulent manner. Since then, the black-and-white fans have made a point of booing him intensely in games between the two teams.
"It will be a very different game from the ones we've played against them so far. The other three were part of the Carioca Championship, and a draw wasn't a bad result. Now, in the Brazilian Championship, a win will put us in a better position in the standings," he said.
Paulinho denies rumors
The match between Flamengo and Goiás was marked by a last-minute lineup change made by coach Ney Franco. Léo Medeiros, who had trained all week with the starting lineup, was benched for Paulinho, who, besides being a regular starter in the Carioca, was considered the best defensive midfielder in the competition.
Throughout the week, there was much discussion about why Paulinho was left out of the starting lineup during training. From then on, rumors surfaced that the player was overdoing it on his nights out in Rio. However, he claimed to be unaware of such rumors and assured that this is not happening.
"I don't know anything about this matter. I'm doing my part. If I didn't train with the starters, it was by the coach's choice and not for any other reason. I'm a calm and responsible guy, I don't need to prove anything to anyone."
Furthermore, the player, who has never lost to Botafogo, took the opportunity to say that only with a lot of work and humility will Flamengo be able to be victorious in Sunday's classic.
Fla's defense pleases Ney Franco
Flamengo already has a benchmark for how the team should play in this Brazilian Championship. Coach Ney Franco made a point of praising his team's performance in the victory over Goiás on Sunday at Serra Dourada. The defense was the area the coach was most pleased to see in action. With a solid performance, the opponent barely threatened.
"Our defense was very solid. We managed to neutralize Goiás' offensive power, we played with balance, without taking risks, and this game will serve as a benchmark for the next rounds of the Brazilian Championship," said the coach.
The victory also served to erase a poor debut against Palmeiras in the Brazilian Championship. The search now is for consistency, which Ney Franco considers a key factor for the team to achieve a good campaign. The coach also made a point of emphasizing that his team, despite playing with three defenders, is not a defensive player.
"We need to stop this idea that playing with three defenders is synonymous with defensive play. Even against Goiás, we didn't give up on attacking. In the Brazilian Championship, we can't afford to have two good games and two bad ones. I have to go in thinking about the title. Then, as the competition progresses, we'll analyze how far the team can go," he said.
To continue this surge in performance, Flamengo will need to beat Botafogo, their next opponent, for the first time this season. The coach believes a victory could put the Red-Blacks among the strong title contenders.
Ney Franco believes Flamengo can beat Botafogo
Flamengo faces Botafogo next Sunday in the third round of the Brazilian Championship, a repeat of the grand final of this year's Campeonato Carioca. Coach Ney Franco believes that if the team plays the same way it did against Goiás last Sunday, when Flamengo won 3-1, they have a chance to beat Botafogo.
"Botafogo is in a good moment, but if the team fits together and attacks and defends well, if we put into practice what we train, we can balance things out and have a real chance of winning," the coach told Rádio Tupi.
Ney Franco: 'Victory over Botafogo could boost Flamengo'
Satisfied and relieved with the victory over Goiás at Serra Dourada on Sunday, coach Ney Franco now faces a bigger challenge. The team will face Botafogo, the same team they defeated in the Campeonato Carioca final almost a month ago. The coach knows it will be a difficult task, but if successful, it could give the team the confidence it needs to build momentum in this early Brasileirão season.
"It's going to be a tough game. In fact, there are no easy games in the Brazilian Championship, because you're either playing a state derby, a national derby, or even facing a tough opponent away from home. I hope we can win, because a win in the derby boosts confidence," Ney Franco said in an interview with Rádio Globo.
O Dia
Ibson close to returning to Flamengo
Rio - After midfielder Íbson's father stated that it would be difficult for the player to return to Flamengo, everything changed. The player arrives in Rio this Tuesday afternoon, after winning the Portuguese championship title with Futebol Clube do Porto. Íbson's representatives believe that at the Gávea club, he could be closer to a call-up to the national team. Íbson came through Flamengo's youth ranks.
Petkovic leaves Goiás and his name is once again being speculated at Flamengo
Player terminated his contract due to dissatisfaction with the charges
Goiás - Midfielder Petkovic is no longer a Goiás player. This Monday, after expressing dissatisfaction with the demands, the Serbian asked the board to terminate his contract. Last week, Petkovic's name was speculated at Flamengo. However, at the time, vice president of football Kléber Leite denied the information. Now, rumors are once again growing that the player is negotiating a return to Gávea. In fact, his signing has reportedly already received the approval of coach Ney Franco.
Goiás president Pedro Goulart lamented the departure of the player, who had little impact on the Goiás team.
"He was unhappy and asked to leave. It was a huge loss for Goiás," commented the director.
Leonardo will be available to Ney Franco for the classic against Botafogo
Rio - Good news for coach Ney Franco and Flamengo fans. Striker Leonardo has recovered from a left ankle injury and will be available for the coach's derby against Botafogo on Sunday at Maracanã.
Leonardo arrived at Flamengo at the beginning of the year with a very good record in Paraná. However, the player has yet to fully realize his potential at Gávea. After Obina's injury, he had a chance in the Taça Rio, but suffered a left ankle injury that sidelined him for over a month.
"I'm recovered. Over the last two weeks, I've been recovering my physical condition and if Ney wants, he can count on me against Botafogo," the player told Rádio Bandeirantes.
21/5/2007 20:52:00
Ney Franco is considering changing Flamengo's strategy again.
Next Sunday, Rubro-Negro faces Botafogo, for the Brasileirão
Rio - After beating Goiás 3-1 last Sunday at Serra Dourada in the second round of the Brazilian Championship, coach Ney Franco may change Flamengo's formation again. Now, the manager will face the derby against Botafogo. Ney considers Botafogo to be one of the strongest opponents in the country, so since Flamengo beat Goiás in a 3-5-2 formation, the team is expected to return to its traditional 4-4-2 formation.
For the match, the only problem so far is the injury to midfielder Claiton, who left the pitch feeling pain in his left thigh.
Sports Gazette
Three-defender scheme approved at Fla\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Last Friday, when confirming that he would field Flamengo with three defenders against Goiás, coach Ney Franco commented that he was aware that his choice could backfire. But the coach's star shined once again. Just as he had predicted, the formation served to give the full-backs greater freedom, and Juan and Leonardo Moura made their mark in the 3-1 victory. "With the three-defender formation, we were able to maximize possession and played well. The team was able to assimilate what we trained all week," commented the Flamengo coach.
Last week, when deciding on a three-man defense, Ney Franco urged Juan to demonstrate his attacking prowess and even drew a comparison with Sorín, the Argentine full-back who scored many goals during his time at Cruzeiro. Juan expressed satisfaction with his new role, while Leonardo Moura celebrated his positive mood ahead of the derby against Botafogo.
'This victory was very important and puts us in a good position so that, if we beat Botafogo next Sunday, we can perhaps finish the round among the top four or five,' said the coach.
After Monday's day off, when only the players who didn't play against Goiás trained, Flamengo's starting players return to training this Tuesday morning at Gávea. Flamengo's doctors will use the return to training to reevaluate midfielder Claiton, who left the Goiás match complaining of muscle pain. Claiton is not a concern for the derby against Botafogo.
'Now I have to try to get treatment to recover as quickly as possible, because I really want to be on the field on Sunday,' said the midfielder, who is not thinking about a revenge atmosphere on the part of the black and whites, defeated by Flamengo in the Carioca Championship final.
"There's nothing like that. Flamengo is already the Rio de Janeiro champion, Botafogo is in good form, they're in the Copa do Brasil semifinals. Classics are always difficult, especially in the Brazilian Championship, where the whole country stops to watch the game," Claiton added.
PeléNet
Coach promises to only announce Fla on match day\ Vinícius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\ Despite praising Flamengo's performance in the 3-1 victory over Goiás last Sunday in the Brazilian Championship, coach Ney Franco has not yet confirmed the team will remain in the squad for next Sunday's classic against Botafogo.\
In fact, the coach promised a change in his approach. From now on, he will no longer announce the team's starting lineup, which will only be announced on game days.
"We have seven training sessions. I'll only decide the lineup on game day, so as not to repeat the problem we had last week," said Ney Franco.
Last Thursday, the coach had announced Flamengo's starting lineup with Léo Medeiros replacing midfielder Paulinho. However, after Friday's training session, he abandoned the idea.
"I don't want to rush into things again, so that you [journalists] don't pass on wrong information to the fans," explained Ney Franco.
Performance against Goiás becomes a benchmark for Flamengo\ Vinícius Barreto Souto\ In Rio de Janeiro\ Flamengo's performance in the 3-1 victory over Goiás last Sunday in Goiânia became a benchmark for the red-and-black team for the remainder of the Brazilian Championship. This Monday, coach Ney Franco highlighted that the team's performance against the Esmeraldinos should serve as a model for the rest of the competition.\
"This performance serves as a benchmark for our upcoming matches. If we maintain the tactical discipline and concentration we had in this match, we have every chance of having a good run in this Brazilian Championship," said Ney Franco.
After Flamengo's 4-2 defeat to Palmeiras at Maracanã Stadium in their Série A debut, the coach changed the team's structure. To better protect the defense, which had conceded 11 goals in the five games prior to the match against Goiás, he fielded three defenders—Irineu, Thiago, and Ronaldo Angelim—and ruled out striker Roni last Sunday.
"The team didn't just do well from midfield forward. Our defense was also solid. We managed to neutralize much of Goiás' attacking power. The team achieved this balance, played with a protected defense, and attacked without running any major risks of conceding goals," observed Ney Franco, who praised another virtue the team demonstrated against Goiás.
"The team came out alert and focused. When the opponent had possession, they pressed hard. And when we had possession, we valued possession and had four clear scoring opportunities. We could have even come away with a more comfortable victory," he analyzed.
After praising the team, Ney Franco issued a warning. According to the coach, from now on, Flamengo's challenge will be to maintain this level of performance throughout the competition.
"The Brazilian Championship is tough. You have to maintain a good performance average. The last champion, for example, São Paulo, only had four losses in the entire competition. We can't let the team's performance decline. We're hoping that on Sunday the team can play as well as it did against Goiás," concluded Ney Franco.
BalloonSport
Every coach wants a Renato, says Ney\ Flamengo's commander praises the number 11's good form and talks about the athlete's positioning\ Márcio Iannacca\
Midfielder Renato's performance in Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Goiás last Sunday at Serra Dourada caught the attention of coach Ney Franco. For the coach, the number 11 is essential for any club in Brazilian football.
"Any Brazilian soccer coach would love to have a Renato. He plays more than one position and is one of the most dedicated athletes here at Flamengo," Ney praises.
Ney also praised Renato's tactical approach. According to the coach, the player's versatility, who provided a beautiful pass for Flamengo's second goal in Sunday's game, scored by Juan (watch the video above), has helped him greatly when it comes to building the red-and-black team.
"Renato is a versatile player. He can play as a playmaker, left winger, and defensive midfielder. Few players have that ability," the coach analyzes.
Ibson arrives in Brazil this Tuesday\ Portuguese newspaper 'A Bola' states that the midfielder will attempt a return to Flamengo\
\ EFE\ Ibson in action for Porto, a rare occurrence in the season that ended on Sunday\ Announced last week as a possible reinforcement for Flamengo for the Brazilian Championship, midfielder Ibson, from Porto, Portugal, traveled to Brazil and is expected to arrive in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday afternoon. According to the Portuguese newspaper "A Bola", the player would try to return to the red-black club.\
The player, who has played little this season, has already admitted to the Brazilian press that he welcomes a return to the club that launched him. Despite this, his father has stated that a return to Brazilian football would be very difficult.
Before traveling, Ibson participated in the celebrations of Porto's second Portuguese championship title won on Sunday.
Flamengo outlines plan for the Brazilian Championship. Ney Franco will analyze the competition schedule to outline goals for the Flamengo squad. Márcio Iannacca. Coach Ney Franco will analyze the Brazilian Championship schedule this Monday. The coach will outline Flamengo's initial objectives for the start of the competition. The Flamengo manager only revealed that the team will set goals for every four matches.
"The Brazilian Championship started off very close to the Libertadores. I'll look at the numbers and tell the players what we need to do. I've already outlined Flamengo's next four matches in the competition in the locker room, and we'll work on that," says Ney.
Aware that Flamengo needs to regain its prestige in the national competition, the coach explains his objective in the Brasileirão.
"As the coach of a team like Flamengo, I have to think about the title. At a certain point, as the games go by, you set new goals. If it's not the title, we'll go for a spot in the Libertadores," says the Flamengo coach.
Striker Leonardo is ready to return\ The player, who has not played since the Rio Cup, should be included in the squad against Botafogo\ Having not played since the match against Friburguense, for the Rio Cup, in April, striker Leonardo has recovered from the injury to his left ankle and should be included in the squad for next Sunday's game against Botafogo.\
The player, who had been gaining ground in the starting lineup, will have to regain the trust of coach Ney Franco. Leonardo assures that his goal at the moment is to help and then compete for a spot.
"Ney likes to keep working. I'm happy to be back; I'll be available. If he wants to count on me, I'll be ready to help Flamengo. I have to work hard to earn a starting spot," he told Rádio Bandeirantes.
In Leonardo's absence, Flamengo's starting attacking duo has varied between Souza and Roni or Souza and Renato Augusto. Youngsters Bruno Mezenga and Paulo Sérgio have also had opportunities, but have yet to capitalize.
Irineu says the goal was legal\ Defender denies having fouled André Leone in the match against Goiás\
Defender Irineu was overjoyed to have scored his first goal for Flamengo (watch the video below). The excited player swore he hadn't fouled Goiás defender André Leone during the Flamengo's first goal. "You can see his hand pushes me, and only then do I push him back. It was a normal football play," Irineu said. The defender also said he would have complained to the referee if the opposing team had scored.
- I would certainly complain, but it's up to the judge to decide - he adds.
Throw
Ney Franco: 'Brasileirão is full of tough stuff'\ Coach expects a very tough game against Botafogo next Sunday\
LANCEPRESS!
After losing to Palmeiras at the Maracanã Stadium, Flamengo rallied and defeated Goiás at the Serra Dourada Stadium last Sunday. For coach Ney Franco, the results were normal, given the highly competitive Brazilian Championship.
The red-black commander expects to face another difficult match next Sunday, against Botafogo.
"It's a tough game, another Brazilian football classic. There are no easy games in this championship. Sometimes we play national or regional classics, but even mid-sized teams always surprise. On Sunday, we'll have the opportunity to face Botafogo for the fourth time this year, after three draws. I expect a good performance from us so we can improve our position in the standings," said Ney Franco in an interview with Rádio Globo.
The coach will still consider his formation for this match throughout the week. However, he stated that he will only reveal his team's formation on Sunday, the day of the match.
Bruno has offers to leave Flamengo\ Barcelona would be interested in signing Flamengo goalkeeper\ Rodrigo Benchimol\
Before even considering any reinforcements for the Brazilian Championship, the board established Bruno's continued presence at Gávea as a priority. The goalkeeper's contract expires in July, and Flamengo faces a tough battle with the European market. One of the interested parties could be Barcelona, from Spain.
Eduardo Uram, a businessman and representative of the group of investors who own the goalkeeper's economic rights, declined to name any names. However, he confirmed information obtained by LANCE! that a major Spanish club was interested in Bruno.
"He has offers from a major Spanish club and a major Portuguese club. There's also interest from a German club," said Eduardo Uram.
The businessman has been addressing this issue transparently and also confirms that it's very unlikely Bruno will remain at Gávea. According to him, investors linked to Israeli Pini Zahavi are not inclined to accept the offer to renew with Flamengo for another five years.
"They (investors) don't even want to talk about the possibility of Bruno staying here. They're talking about removing him," Uram explained.
The rumor that Barcelona would be a possible destination for the goalkeeper has been treated with secrecy and suspicion behind the scenes at Gávea. Three directors confirmed they had heard about the matter but declined to comment.
Regardless, vice president of football, Kléber Leite, is optimistic about a positive outcome to the case. He knows that Bruno has been constantly harassed, but he is sparing no effort to keep him for longer.
"That's one of our goals. It's not easy, but we're making progress. We have a very good chance, but that's a topic for two or three weeks from now," said Kléber, who has been putting together a plan to convince the group of investors.
– There’s no point in wanting to know details because not even Marcio Braga knows – said Kléber.
Since Flamengo lacks financial clout, the club's director must include some of the rights to Flamengo's players in the negotiations. The arm wrestling is difficult, but the fans know the effort is worthwhile.
Claiton guarantees he will play against Botafogo\ The midfielder feels pain in his left thigh, but wants to face his former club\ \
LANCEPRESS!
Near the end of Flamengo's 3-0 win against Goiás last Sunday, midfielder Claiton felt pain in his left thigh but remained on the field. On Monday, the club doctors diagnosed him with a strain, making him doubtful for next Sunday's derby against Botafogo.
Claiton, however, doesn't even want to consider the possibility of not facing his former club. The player assured that he will be on the field on Sunday.
"If the game were on Tuesday or Wednesday, I wouldn't be able to play, but since it's only on Sunday, I should be able to recover. After the Goiás match, I started treatment and felt better. I should be fit, and I'll do my best to play," said Claiton, who had a strong performance against Goiás.
Leonardo is available to Ney Franco\ Striker recovers from left ankle injury and becomes an option\ LANCEPRESS! \
Having not played since the match against Friburguense, for the Rio Cup, in April, Flamengo striker Leonardo has recovered from the injury to his left ankle and should be included in the squad for next Sunday's game against Botafogo.
The player, who had been gaining ground in the starting lineup, will have to regain the trust of coach Ney Franco. Leonardo assures that his goal at the moment is to help and then compete for a spot.
"Ney likes to keep working. I'm happy to be back; I'll be available. If he wants to count on me, I'll be ready to help Flamengo. I have to work hard to earn a starting spot," Leonardo told Rádio Bandeirantes.
In Leonardo's absence, Flamengo's starting attacking duo has varied between Souza and Roni or Souza and Renato Augusto. Youngsters Bruno Mezenga and Paulo Sérgio have also had opportunities, but have yet to capitalize.