The Globe
Renato Augusto doesn't want to be a stopgap
Player demands return to Flamengo's midfield
"Midfield is the place for the star player," says the verse by the Minas Gerais group Skank. At Flamengo, everyone wants to play in this position, which has been reinforced the most by the board. After spending six months improvising in attack, Renato Augusto intends to keep the number 10 jersey, but playing in his original position, midfield.
"I don't want to be a stopgap, like I was for six months. My original position is midfield, and I'll fight to regain that spot," said Renato Augusto.
The competition is fierce. There are more than ten players competing for four spots. Kléberson, Gavilán, and Jônatas were recently signed and are unlikely to be substitutes. In the team's last Brazilian Championship game, the midfield consisted of Jailton, Cristian, Ibson, and Toró. Renato Augusto and Souza formed the attack.
Toró relies on versatility to stay among the starters
Vice President of Football Kleber Leite reportedly preferred Jônatas, Kléberson, Ibson, and Renato Augusto. But Joel Santana hasn't decided yet and will only begin considering the matter next year. Dissatisfied, Renato Augusto would be tempted to leave the club. However, the R$30 million release clause would be a hindrance:
- Let's see what happens. I've matured a lot and I'll know how to fight intelligently.
Another player whose place is under threat is Toró, who shows no concern:
"My versatility is a plus. I can play as a defensive midfielder or a midfielder. Wherever Joel puts me, I'll play," he said.
STATE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
Flamengo was crowned the 2007 Absolute State Swimming Champion, in a competition the day before yesterday, at the Júlio Delamare Aquatic Park.
Sports Journal
Red and black carousel
With Jônatas and Kleberson, Fla's midfield will gain a new look
Thiago Bokel
Kleberson runs in Gávea: he is one of the untouchables in Fla's new midfield
Jaílton, Cristian, Ibson, and Toró. The midfielder coach Joel Santana used in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship, which secured qualification for the Libertadores, will remain in the fans' memories, but it's unlikely to be present in the team's Carioca debut on January 20th against Boavista at the Maracanã. With the signings of Kleberson, Jônatas (from Paraguayan Gavilán), and Marcinho, the coach has a wealth of options to build his ideal team.
However, only the first two are expected to start the year. This is because another striker will be signed to partner Souza. However, as the board is having difficulty finding this player, Renato Augusto may also be used improvised in attack, thus opening up another spot in midfield. In this case, the Paraguayan defensive midfielder could be the one who excels.
Joel Santana has already shown that he enjoys working with a defensive midfield, as he did at the end of the Brazilian Championship. Therefore, Gavilán ends up having a better chance of starting than Marcinho. But if the board manages to sign the striker, Renato Augusto would be dropped back to form the midfield, which would then be closed by him, Jônatas, Kleberson, and Ibson, with the latter playing the false third defender role that the coach likes to use and already did with him in 2005.
The one player who ended up without a starting spot was Cristian, one of the team's standout players in the Brazilian Championship, but with all these new signings, he ended up relegated to the reserves. But since the season will be long, with Flamengo competing in three different competitions—the Carioca, the Libertadores, and the Brazilian Championship—it's quite likely that Cristian will be chosen as the team's 13th player, since the fans are the 12th player.
Another player who should be used with some frequency, despite not starting the year, is midfielder Toró. After remaining under the radar since joining the club in early 2006, he saw a sharp increase in performance in the second half of the year, even being called up to the Olympic squad.
Coach Joel Santana is celebrating all these choices, as he will have much more than just a starting midfielder. He knows that whoever comes in will be able to maintain the same level of play as whoever leaves.
Golden year for the red-black kids
Pedro Sa
File/JS
Flamengo players celebrate winning the OPG Cup for the second time
2007 was undoubtedly one of the most successful years for Flamengo's youth teams. The red-and-black youth team won the State Junior Championship for three times, the Taça BH (BH Cup), defeating Cruzeiro in the final, the Copa Macaé (equivalent to the Brazilian Under-17 Championship), and finished third in the Malaysia Under-19 World Cup. To top it all off, they won the Taça Octávio Pinto Guimarães for the second time. In the final against rivals Fluminense, they were thrashed 5-0 in the first leg. Not even a 3-0 defeat in the second leg could spoil the red-and-black party.
Names like Paulo Sérgio, Kayke, Thiago Sales, and William Amendoim have already appeared among the club's professional squad. Other gems are poised to emerge. These include Erick Flores, Vinícius Colombiano, and defender Anderson, who, despite their young age, already understand the importance of wearing the sacred jersey.
Goal for 2008 is to maintain state hegemony
Flamengo's first challenge next season will be the traditional São Paulo Junior Football Cup, now in its 39th edition. Flamengo previously won the competition in 1990. At the time, the team featured youngsters Paulo Nunes, Djalminha, Júnior Baiano, and others. In 2008, Flamengo is in Group N, based in Piracicaba. The group includes Nacional from Manaus, Ypiranga from Amapá, and the local team, XV de Piracicaba. The debut will be against Nacional on January 5th.
It's important to highlight the work of Rivelino Serpa, son of Valdir Espinosa, Moyses Saubel, and coach Adílio in developing these young players, who honored the club's traditions and lived up to the motto: "Flamengo makes it at home." Not to mention the champion coaches in other categories: Rogério, in the youth team, and Zé Ricardo, in the youth team. All of the aforementioned achievements fill Flamengo fans with hope that, perhaps, they will soon see these young talents become national idols and etch their names into the club's glorious history.
Joel's bolt is cocked
One of the team's highlights in the final stretch of the Brazilian Championship, the defense will be even stronger in 2008
Thiago Bokel
Sheriff Fábio Luciano will have the mission of commanding the red-black defense next year
Before coach Joel Santana took over at Flamengo, Ney Franco led the team for 12 rounds in the Brazilian Championship, conceding 22 goals, which at the time was one of the worst defenses in the league. After the current coach's arrival, the team's performance improved significantly. In 26 matches, they conceded only 27 goals, and Flamengo now has the eighth-best defense. What was already good will now be even better.
With the signing of defender Rodrigo, confirmed last Tuesday, Flamengo will boast one of the most solid defenses in the country, at least on paper. Alongside the sheriff Fábio Luciano, he will form a duo that commands respect from opponents. Even more so, with the support of full-backs Leonardo Moura and Juan, who were selected for the championship's team—the former was named best right-back, while the latter was named second-best left-back. Not to mention the security of goalkeeper Bruno, whose contract has been renewed for another five years.
And in a tough competition like the Libertadores, having a strong defense is crucial to a strong campaign. Since the Flamengo coach prefers to play with three defenders, he'll likely start the year with defensive midfielder Jônatas as a makeshift defender. He also has the option of fielding Paraguayan Gavilán. The lack of chemistry, however, isn't a concern.
"I'm very pleased with the arrival of these reinforcements, who will be very helpful in helping Flamengo have a great year. Since they're all quality players, I believe it won't take long for them to fit into the team. Now we just need a striker to complete the team," explained Joel Santana.
Other alternatives\Defensive strength was crucial to Flamengo's late surge in the Brazilian Championship. Playing at the Maracanã, the team rarely conceded a goal. And as in the Libertadores, keeping a clean sheet at home ends up being a key factor in reaching the finals. Flamengo has a head start on its rivals thanks to its strong defense.\
In addition to Rodrigo and Fábio Luciano, the coach will also have Ronaldo Angelim, Thiago Sales, Rodrigo Arroz, and youth academy prospect Marlon at his disposal. This year, Joel lost defender Hélder, who was out of contract and ended up signing with Boavista for the Carioca.
Now, the red-and-black fan who goes to Maracanã will be sure that for the opponents to be able to score a goal against the team, they will need to put in a lot of effort, because the wall is built.
Renato Augusto only wants to play in midfield
With the board having difficulty signing a striker to partner with Souza, coach Joel Santana is already considering the possibility of improvising with midfielder Renato Augusto up front. But if it's up to the player's will, the coach might want to change his mind.
Yesterday, at Manoel Tobias's farewell to futsal, Renato spoke about the situation: "My preference is midfield. I played in attack for six months, getting by, but I don't want to do that any longer. We'll see what happens. I had a turbulent year, but I gained experience from everything I went through," he said.
Finding a player to fill the role of second striker was Joel's biggest headache this year. Even when Ney Franco was the coach, Renato Augusto was regularly used as a makeshift attacker.
After signing Argentine Maxi Biancucchi, it seemed the problem was solved. However, after a strong start, the foreigner's performance declined, and since the midfield was already solid, with Jaílton, Cristian, Ibson, and Toró, the coach ended up using Renato Augusto as Souza's partner. He was also instrumental in the match that secured Flamengo's qualification for the Copa Libertadores, when he scored one goal and set up Juan for the other in a 2-0 victory over Grêmio.
Fla is the Carioca Swimming Champion
Flamengo won the 2007 Absolute State Swimming Championship, held from December 20th to 22nd in the 50m pool at Júlio Delamare Aquatic Park. The competition was the last of the year for Rio swimmers.
Flamengo won the men's, women's, and overall categories. The club's standout performer was Thiago Parravicini, who won the Technical Index and Efficiency Trophy for achieving the best individual result and being the tournament's top scorer.
Sports Gazette
Gavilán gets time off and Flamengo presentation is postponed
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo's board of directors has decided to postpone the presentation of Paraguayan midfielder Gavilán, which was scheduled for this Wednesday at the club's headquarters in Gávea. Because the player got married last Saturday in Asunción, the directors gave the new signing a few extra days off, but he still doesn't have a set date to wear his new jersey. Gavilán was another experienced player the Flamengo team signed for the Copa Libertadores da América. The Paraguayan has played in the continental competition four times and was runner-up this year with Grêmio – losing the final to Boca Juniors.
Flamengo has officially announced the signing of four players. In addition to Gavilán, midfielder Marcinho (formerly of Atlético Mineiro), defender Rodrigo (formerly of Dynamo Kyiv, Ukraine), and defensive midfielder Jônatas (formerly of Espanyol, Spain) have also joined the club.
Another name close to being confirmed is that of midfielder Kleberson, who is suspended by FIFA due to contractual issues with Besiktas, from Türkiye.
PeléNet
Renato Augusto no longer intends to be a "stopgap" at Flamengo
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
In 2007, for a long time, Renato Augusto stopped playing in midfield, his original position, to play improvised in attack. For 2008, the player said he doesn't intend to repeat the "experience."
"I had a break this year, but I don't intend to continue in attack. But we'll see how the start of next year goes," he said in an interview with Sportv.
Renato Augusto, who participated in Manoel Tobias' farewell party from futsal this Sunday, also took the opportunity to talk about Flamengo's group in the Libertadores.
In the first phase of the competition, Rubro-Negro will be joined by Nacional, from Uruguay, Coronel Bolognesi, from Peru, and Cienciano, from Peru, or Wanderes, from Uruguay, who are still playing in the pre-Libertadores.
"I still don't know much about our opponents. But at the right time, Joel Santana (coach) will show the videos and we'll find out," he emphasized.
Renato Augusto is enjoying a vacation. His return to training is scheduled for January 4th. Flamengo will hold its preseason training camp at Granja Comary in Teresópolis.
With "confused" artillery, Souza ends Fla's year at the top
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo made a final push in the Brazilian Championship and secured its spot in the 2008 Copa Libertadores. However, in terms of Flamengo's goalscoring, the year was very "confusing." Striker Souza finished top with 15 goals, compared to 13 for mid-year defender Renato, who left the Brazilian club for Arab football money.
In the State Championship, won by Flamengo itself, Renato e Souza finished as the top scorer with six goals. In the Libertadores, the supporter took the lead.
Souza's revenge, even in the absence of his rival, came in the Brazilian Championship, when the striker scored six times. This time, he tied with left-back Juan.
Check out Flamengo's top scorers in 2007
Season
Souza - 15\ Renato - 13\ Obina - 9\ Juan - 7\ Renato Augusto, Leonardo and Ibson - 6\ Leonardo Moura and Léo Medeiros - 5\ Paulo Sérgio, Roni and Ronaldo Angelim - 3\ Roger, Maxi Biancucchi and Fábio Luciano - 2\ Toró, Cristian, Thiago Sales, Jaílton, Claiton, Léo Lima, Irineu and Carlinhos (Figueirense - against) - 1\
State Championship
Renato and Souza - 6\ Renato Augusto, Leonardo and Obina - 3\ Leo Medeiros and Roni - 2\ Ronaldo Angelim, Leo Lima and Juan - 1\
America's Libertadores
Renato - 5\ Souza - 3\ Obina - 2\ Roni and Renato Augusto - 1\
Brazilian Championship
Souza and Juan - 6\ Ibson and Leonardo Moura - 5\ Obina - 4\ Leonardo, Léo Medeiros and Paulo Sérgio - 3\ Renato Augusto, Roger, Maxi Biancucchi, Fábio Luciano, Ronaldo Angelim and Renato - 2\ Toró, Cristian, Thiago Sales, Jaílton, Irineu, Claiton and Carlinhos (Figueirense - against) - 1\
Flamengo postpones presentation of midfielder Gavilán
From UOL Esporte\ In Rio de Janeiro\
Flamengo fans won't see Gavilán don the red-and-black jersey on Wednesday. This is because the player will have more time off due to his wedding, which took place this Saturday in Asunción, Paraguay. The date of the presentation is still unknown.
The Gávea club announced the signing of the Paraguayan midfielder last Wednesday. The midfielder arrives as a key player for the Copa Libertadores da América. Throughout his career, Gavilán has competed in the competition four times. The last time was in 2007, when he finished runner-up with Grêmio.
The player is suspended for 120 days by the Superior Court of Sports Justice (STJD), for having punched Palmeiras midfielder Valdivia in the back, but his sentence should be reduced.
In addition to Gavilán, Flamengo has already announced midfielder Marcinho, formerly of Atlético-MG, defender Rodrigo, formerly of Dynamo Kyiv-UCR and midfielder Jônatas, formerly of Espanyol-ESP.
Kleberson, who arrived at Gávea this year and has not yet played due to serving a suspension imposed by FIFA, is also considered a reinforcement for next season.
BalloonSport
Playing in attack bothers Renato Augusto
Flamengo fan reaffirms he's a midfielder and isn't excited about the chance to play up front
Gustavo Rotstein
Renato Augusto and André Lima were at Manoel Tobias's game
With Flamengo's midfield congested, everything indicates that Renato Augusto will start the season competing for a spot in attack. But before making that decision, coach Joel Santana needs to speak with the player.
His dissatisfaction with the prospect of being Souza's teammate up front is clear. Since the beginning of his career, he's stated that his position is as a supporter. And the coaches' insistence on playing him as a striker is increasingly bothering him.
"My preference is to play midfield. I played attack for six months. It's one thing to just get by. But if I have to play longer, I don't know," says Renato Augusto, who attended futsal player Manoel Tobias' farewell ceremony at Maracanãzinho this Sunday.
Flamengo's 2008 signings essentially bolstered the midfield. The team has 13 players for four positions. With the overcrowding, Renato Augusto hasn't ruled out a transfer.
"We'll see how things unfold. This year has been a bit turbulent. But I've gained experience from everything I've been through. I've matured a lot," he explains.
Junior celebrates the 'alchemy' of Flamengo fans
Flamengo idol says that the display of affection reminded him of his playing days
Gustavo Rotstein
Junior highlights the fans' support for Flamengo in the 2007 Brasileirão
Seeing a packed Maracanã stadium during Flamengo's run to the Copa Libertadores gave Junior a nostalgic feeling. With each home victory, fueled by his fans, the former player recalled the days when the great Flamengo team he played for in the 80s also drew huge crowds to the stadiums.
"I really reminisced about that time watching Flamengo games. It's that alchemy, that cohesion with the fans, again, something that hadn't happened since those days. That's really good," he celebrates.
According to Júnior, this "reinforcement" will be fundamental for Flamengo in the 2008 Libertadores.
"Winning at home is crucial, and the fans will play a crucial role. This is crucial for the Libertadores," he analyzes.
Throw
Toró is willing to be Joel's joker
Player believes he can play in the red-black attack
LANCEPRESS!
Midfielder Toró said this Sunday that he would be willing to play in attack if coach Joel Santana so requires. For the player, everyone must give their all for the team, regardless of their position.
He highlighted the importance of the coach in his rise in performance at Flamengo and, for this reason, he was willing to collaborate in any way he was asked to play.
"Joel is a father figure to me, and to help him, if he tells me I have to play attack, I won't think twice. It's not what I want most, but we always have to think about what's best for the team," he mused.
Flamengo denies participation in the Peregrino Cup
Website lists club as participant in tournament held in January
Reproduction from the Norwegian website: América, Flamengo and Botafogo appear as participants in the tournament
Guilherme de Paula RIO DE JANEIRO\ Thiago Asmar RIO DE JANEIRO\
A website is advertising the Peregrino Cup, a tournament taking place from January 12th to 18th at the Maracanã Stadium, featuring Flamengo, América-RJ, Botafogo, and three Norwegian clubs. The page, written in Norwegian, even includes a schedule of matches. The problem is that Flamengo says it won't play the friendly matches.
During this period, the red-and-black squad will be in Teresópolis for preseason training. The team's debut in the State Championship will be on January 20th, against Boavista, at Maracanã. However, according to vice-president of football, Kléber Leite, the inconsistency of dates isn't the only reason the club won't participate in the friendly tournament.
"The chance of us playing is zero. I've never heard of it. I'm just hearing about it now, and it's very strange. We haven't been approached by anyone, and Flamengo doesn't know what it's all about," he said, adding that the club wouldn't even go down the mountain for financial reasons, making it clear that the priority is good preparation for 2008.
"We won't even participate if they come with $10 million (about R$18 million). We refused to go to the United Arab Emirates precisely to have a good preseason," concluded the club's director.
Further evidence that Flamengo will not actually be participating in the Copa Peregrino is that the club's football supervisor, Isaías Tinoco, also revealed that he was not informed about the tournament.
- I don't know anything. I'm out of the loop - he said.
Botafogo is considering the possibility of participating in the Peregrino Cup. América, on the other hand, has shown great motivation for the friendly matches—especially since it's an international tournament—and has confirmed its participation.
Eduardo Paes confirms Maracanã reserve
Stadium could host the Peregrino Cup in January 2008
Guilherme de Paula RIO DE JANEIRO\ Thiago Asmar RIO DE JANEIRO\
State Secretary of Tourism, Sports, and Leisure Eduardo Paes revealed that Maracanã has been reserved for the Peregrino Cup, which will feature Norwegian teams Viking, Start, and Stabaek, as well as Brazilian teams América-RJ and Botafogo. Flamengo, listed as a participant on the competition's website, has denied that it will play.
However, the secretary stated that payment for the use of the stadium has not yet been made and, if this does not happen before the start of the tournament, it will not take place.
"I met with a Norwegian a few months ago, and it's true that a group has reserved the Maracanã. They'll pay a little over R$150 per day of the event. It's soccer, and it has everything to do with the Maracanã," he said.
Eduardo Paes took the opportunity to reassure the other Rio de Janeiro clubs that will play State Championship matches at Maracanã. The first match at the stadium will be on January 19, one day after the friendly tournament, which is scheduled to run from January 12 to 18, concludes.
- Regarding the lawn, it is undergoing renovation, but it will be in good condition by the time of the competition - concluded the secretary.
One of the Norwegian clubs involved in the Peregrino Cup, Start, has a Brazilian on its roster: Ygor, who played for Vasco da Gama until this year. But the midfielder had no luck in Norway, as the club was relegated to the country's Second Division.
Fla striker should only be announced in 2008
Vice President of Football, Kléber Leite, is still chasing a killer
Flamengo is still looking for a striker. But, according to Kléber Leite, there's a good chance Souza's teammate won't be announced until 2008:
"It's very unlikely that anything will happen this year regarding the striker. We're considering several names, but we won't rush. So far, the signings have been surgical and will continue to be so."
Currently, Rubro-Negro has Souza, Obina, the Argentine Maxi and the youngsters Paulo Sérgio and Kayke.
Renato Augusto confirms his desire to play in the middle
Statement was made during Manoel Tobias' farewell to futsal
Supporter Renato Augusto, who attended Manoel Tobias's farewell futsal match at Maracanazinho this Sunday, reaffirmed his desire to play in midfield. He has been used extensively in attack this season, and the number 10 hopes to return to his original position in 2008.
"This year I was a bit of a handful in attack for almost six months. I could even play further forward, but I hope to be better utilized in midfield. I think I'm better at playing from the back," he declared.
Regarding the reinforcements for next season, Renato Augusto praised the speed of the red-black board in the negotiations:
"If the club wants to be a champion, it needs a large squad. Flamengo is on the right track."
Andrade values identification with Fla
Rubro-Negro's assistant coach points to midfielder Jônatas as an example
LANCEPRESS!
Andrade, Flamengo's assistant coach, approved the return of midfielder Jônatas to Gávea. For the former Flamengo player, the Flamengo reinforcement will also be very useful off the field.
"Jônatas is a homegrown talent. It's important to maintain this identity, which will show the new players what Flamengo is all about," he emphasizes.
Andrade took part in a football match on Copacabana beach alongside other former Flamengo idols, such as Júnior and Cláudio Adão.
Presentation of Gavilán midfielder is postponed
Player will gain a few more days to enjoy his honeymoon
Midfielder Gavilán, who was scheduled to be introduced on Wednesday, is expected to get a few more days off for his honeymoon. Flamengo's new signing got married this Saturday in Asunción, Paraguay, and according to Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, he could use this extra break.
Another midfielder, Jônatas, also hasn't set a date for his presentation. What's known is that it will be this week.