The Globe
Fla mocks black and white crying
Rubro-negro fears that Sunday's referee will enter the field under pressure
Botafogo's whining over their elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Figueirense has set off alarm bells in Gávea. Flamengo is now worried that the referee for Sunday's derby against the club (Heber Roberto Lopes, from Paraná), having heard or read so many complaints about assistant Ana Paula Oliveira's mistakes the day before yesterday, will take the field under pressure or feeling sorry for the opponent. With his well-known eloquence, vice-president of football Kleber Leite decided to add fuel to the fire.
"With so much complaining, it seems like the world has fallen apart and Botafogo is a poor bastard. The referee ends up being forced to play. Besides being beautiful, Ana Paula is very competent, and the plays they complain about are complicated and debatable," Kleber quipped, stating that he's not against women referees. "Here at Flamengo, we appreciate the product; we have nothing against it."
The players and coaching staff avoided this controversy, preferring to address the damage that elimination could cause to the morale of their rivals. Claiton, who has overcome muscle pain, believes that emotions weigh heavily on a situation like the one his former club is experiencing, but he doesn't believe in giving up.
"We faced a similar situation when we were eliminated from the Libertadores, but life goes on. Emotions weigh heavily at this time, but we can't go onto the field thinking we're going to face a defeated opponent. I hope they recover in the remaining rounds," said Claiton.
Coach Ney Franco shares the same opinion as the fan, but says Botafogo remains the favorite in the derby.
"We have to mobilize, without worrying about whether the opponent is down or not. Botafogo, despite being eliminated, enters as the favorite. Their form is better than ours. We also suffered an elimination and reacted poorly. In our Brazilian Championship debut, our team was apathetic and we lost to Palmeiras. Each team reacts differently, and I don't know if Botafogo will be down. In my opinion, physical fitness will make a difference, and the team that shows more strength and makes fewer mistakes has a better chance of winning," Ney assessed.
After training on the soggy Gávea pitch, under persistent rain, Neymar was pleased with the starters' 3-0 victory and confirmed his team for Sunday. He's sticking with the 3-5-2 formation from the 3-1 win over Goiás and isn't changing the lineup.
Sports Journal
Roni says he makes Gávea happy
Nina Lima/JS\ \ \ \ Roni satisfied with his time at Gávea\ \ \ Flamengo announced last Wednesday afternoon that striker Roni would be leaving the club. Cruzeiro's offer was accepted by the Flamengo board, which decided to release the player to the Minas Gerais club. Roni, who had not been pleasing the Flamengo fans, said he felt his work was appreciated and is happy to leave Gávea with another title under his belt.\
"Thank God, everything was resolved. The offer came from Cruzeiro, and I was very happy, because it shows that my work, despite criticism, was productive. Especially because I leave here with another title under my belt," Roni told Rádio Brasil.
The Gávea team faces Botafogo this Sunday at 18:10 pm at Maracanã Stadium in the third round of the Brazilian Championship. The Red-Black team is currently in 9th place overall.
Claiton wants to enter the match against Botafogo
Claiton, already recovered from a strained left thigh, took part in collective training this Thursday and says he is ready to face Botafogo next Sunday in the Brazilian Championship.
"I asked to train today, I didn't feel any pain, and I'm 100% ready to play. I always said I'd make the necessary effort to get on the field," said the defensive midfielder.
According to the player, who was part of the black and white squad last season, the General Severiano team is capable of recovering.
"The emotional side of things is heavy, the way they were eliminated was really shocking. It's frustrating, but they'll bounce back, and I hope that only happens after the game against us," Claiton concluded.
Dinelson is close
Negotiations with the athlete's attorney are intensifying and an announcement could be made next week.
Leo Schabbach and Thiago Bokel
Nina Lima/JS\ \ \ \ The brain — Dinelson played in the Copa Libertadores for Paraná, but is linked to Corinthians. His performance has sparked Flamengo's interest\ \ \
Midfielder Dinelson is very close to being announced as Flamengo's first signing for the Brazilian Championship. He played for Paraná in the Copa Libertadores, but his federation rights are tied to Corinthians. Vice President of Football Kleber Leite met yesterday with Wagner Ribeiro, the player's agent, and said negotiations have progressed. The midfielder's signing is expected to be officially announced next week.
"I'm excited and cautious at the same time. There are other offers for the player. This will be the only signing Flamengo makes to get back into the title race," he said.
Last week, Kleber Leite threw up a smokescreen to try to hide the negotiations, claiming they would be very complicated due to a number of issues. On the other hand, he commented that the deal was well underway and that there would be some news regarding the signing the following week.
Dinelson was one of the standout performers in the Flamengo-Paraná match at Maracanã in the Copa Libertadores, from which both teams were eliminated early. Kleber Leite greatly admires the midfielder's play, and he's expected to be the key midfielder for Ney Franco's team. Flamengo needs someone to organize the midfield, as playmaker Renato Augusto has been playing more up front and could still be out of the club for some time if called up to the U-20 national team.
The other weapons that Flamengo should use to reinforce itself for the Brazilian Championship should come from its own youth academy, as Flamengo has had a good crop of players formed in recent years, who even reached the third Rio de Janeiro junior championship.
"Flamengo also has a plan to utilize several players from the youth academy. This year, we formed a very good youth team, and we'll try to take advantage of these new talents," explained Kleber Leite.
Renato, from Fla, detonates Botafogo
\ \ \ \ Renato contradicts Cuca and says that the best in Rio is Flamengo\ \ \
Supporter Renato wasn't moved by Botafogo's elimination from the Copa do Brasil final last Wednesday against Figueirense at Maracanã. Analyzing the situation, he took the opportunity to praise the Campeonato Carioca title, won over Alvinegro, and even provoke him.
"I don't regret the elimination. They're the ones who should regret it. They talked a lot about being unfairly treated in the final, and here's the proof. They had the chance to reach the Copa do Brasil final and didn't make it. Once again, we have proof that Flamengo deserved the title," the player said.
Regarding Sunday's classic, when asked about Botafogo's possible favoritism, he made it clear that he does not believe in the black and white team's superiority, because, in his point of view, Rubro-Negro currently has the best team in Rio de Janeiro.
"Anyone who says Botafogo is the favorite doesn't follow football. Because of everything we've done and achieved, we are the best in Rio."
In addition to these questions, Renato also commented on the tactical scheme expected for Sunday's game. According to him, coach Ney Franco's 3-5-2, which worked very well in the match against Goiás, allows him to play more freely and with more freedom to create.
"I feel very comfortable in the new formation. I can play a little further forward and provide more assists to the attackers," explained the midfielder.
And in this regard, he seems to be absolutely right, since, in the match against Goiás, he had a great performance and even provided a perfect pass for Flamengo's second goal, scored by Juan.
Bruno comes to the defense of goalkeeper Júlio César
Goalkeeper Bruno expressed solidarity with his teammate and Sunday's opponent, Júlio César, who missed the Copa do Brasil semifinal match between Botafogo and Figueirense. Bruno strongly believes in the young black and white goalkeeper's potential and believes that he could even be called up to the Brazilian national team in the near future.
"He's a very high-quality goalkeeper who's just emerging into the game and could soon wear the Brazilian jersey. Now is the time to hold your head up high and not be shaken by this mistake," said the Rubro-Negro's number one.
Bruno knows how difficult the goalkeeper's job is; in fact, he's been through the same struggles the young Alvinegro is facing. This year, against Madureira, still in the Guanabara Cup, Bruno made a grotesque mistake in the 4-1 defeat when, after playing in front of striker Marcelo, he lost the ball and ended up conceding a goal. Flamengo only avoided elimination in that match because Botafogo failed to beat Boavista in Saquarema.
"In that game, I made a mistake and put our place in the semifinals at risk. A goalkeeper has to have character and work hard to ensure these mistakes don't happen again," he said.
The player reiterated that it will be very difficult to stay at Gávea if he receives a good offer from Europe, but so far, the only offer he's received has been from Flamengo. Bruno also revealed that if the difference between the offered amount and the offered amount is small, he will be willing to stay at Gávea.
Kleber Leite comes to the defense of his assistant and mocks Botafogo
Football vice president Kleber Leite commented on Thursday on complaints made by Botafogo vice president Carlos Augusto Montenegro regarding assistant Ana Paula Oliveira in the match against Figueirense. The club's director argued in favor of the assistant on the two controversial plays she called.
"I'm very concerned about the referee's involvement. There's controversy surrounding the second goal, which is completely debatable. Did the players interfere? In my opinion, yes. The first goal, I only slowed it down to make sure the position was legal. So, it feels like Botafogo is a poor team. I'd like to say that Ana Paula, besides being very beautiful, is also extremely competent," he assessed.
Kleber also took the opportunity to mock his rival, who will be Fla's opponent on Sunday in the Brazilian Championship.
"I wanted to remind you that the biggest mistake in the last 100 years was Flamengo, against Defensor. Especially because we were harmed in an international competition. I want to tell the referee of Sunday's game that he enters the field in peace and gives a good officiating," said Kleber Leite in an interview with Rádio Tupi.
Flamengo gets the basketball team right
Coach Paulo Chupeta plans new plays for the team to shine in the National playoffs
Rafael Oliveira
Renatto Thiele/JS\ \ \ \ Strategist — Coach Paulo Chupeta prepares new plays and tactics to surprise opponents\ \ \
Flamengo will bid farewell to the National Men's Basketball Championship next Sunday in Gávea, against Paulistano. In this first stage, the Gávea team has experienced ups and downs, and despite qualifying for the playoffs, it hasn't had a campaign capable of energizing its fans. To improve the team's performance in the knockout stage, coach Paulinho Chupeta is already starting special training sessions where new plays are being tested.
"Although the first phase isn't over yet, we're already thinking ahead. Flamengo hasn't been doing well and needs to practice new plays to surprise in the playoffs. Every day we're rehearsing and practicing different strategies for how to get to the opponent's rim," said the Flamengo coach enthusiastically.
The team's inconsistent campaign has been present throughout the qualifying phase. So far, they have 11 wins and 11 losses. If the team loses Sunday's game, they will finish the phase with less than a 50% record.
According to Chupeta, the match against Paulistano will serve only as a test. The idea is to prepare for the decisive stage. The players are already watching videos with highlights from Franca and Unitri, potential opponents in the next stage. "We're getting to know how these teams position themselves tactically. We've already seen, for example, that Franca has a very strong defense. Unitri stands out for its firepower. We're also analyzing these teams' weaknesses. We want to attack their Achilles' heel," concluded the coach.
Paulistano is already in Rio. Today, starting at 20 p.m., they will face 12th-place Iguaçu at the Vila Olímpica gymnasium. The match marks the Baixada Fluminense team's farewell to the tournament, as they no longer have a chance of qualifying.
Polo and swimming girls go on exchange for the Pan American Games
Rising on the international scene, the Brazilian water polo and synchronized swimming teams will participate in an exchange program in the final stretch leading up to the 2007 Pan American Games. The girls' swimmers travel tomorrow to the Rome Open, while the polo stars head to the United States on the 12th.
Striker Melina, a goal-scoring hopeful in the polo game, is excited: "It'll be great to change the environment and get out of our routine a bit. We already know each other well, and that means training isn't as difficult. Plus, we'll be playing against girls, and the swimsuit style is different. As much as the boys help us, it's not the same as an official match."
Bronze at the Pan American Games is the expected result given the strength of Canada and the United States in both sports. But the perfect girls want to overturn the favorites. "We certainly got very close to Canada at the last World Cup. They'll improve, but Brazil is also growing, and each team is honing their fundamental skills. It will be a very even match. What about the United States? In these friendlies, we'll have the chance to see if we can get closer to the Americans," Melina added.
In swimming, the Rome Open will be a chance to face the Mexicans, as Caroline Hildebrandt explains. "It's going to be important because we'll be pitted against the European powers and Mexico, which is our rival for bronze. The competition is quite different and allows us to evaluate how the training is going. We'll present the Pan American choreography, but there's always room for adjustments," said Carol, who is part of the ensemble and duet, alongside Lara Teixeira.
Sergio Areas
At Flamengo, Ney Franco has begun his clean sweep of the group. Enemies Juninho Paulista and Roni are gone. And they're not missed.
Juninho, by the way, is a constant sight in Rio's nightlife. From what we've seen, he's yet another former player trying to stay active, using the "fool me, I like it" approach.
O Dia
Roni goes to Gávea and thanks coach Ney Franco for the opportunity
Rio - Striker Roni was in Gávea this Thursday to settle his remaining issues with Flamengo. He will attempt to report to Cruzeiro, Belo Horizonte, his new club for the Brazilian Championship this afternoon. However, despite the criticism and some poor performances, anyone who thinks Roni left the club with a chip on his shoulder is mistaken.
In a tone of gratitude for the opportunity, Roni emphasized that his time at Gávea was fruitful. Furthermore, he sought to put an end to any controversy with coach Ney Franco. After all, Roni had publicly complained to the manager about not being given opportunities in the starting lineup.
"I was very happy with this transaction, especially since it was Cruzeiro's initiative. It shows that, despite the criticism, my work was well done here at Flamengo. It's difficult to say what was missing or what could have been done. I can say what was definitely missing was commitment. Some balls could have gone in, but all I can do is keep working. Regarding Ney Franco, I have the utmost respect for him. For my part, I can only thank him for everything he did for me," said the player in an interview with Rádio Brasil.
Flamengo owes the striker and the rest of the squad two months' salary. However, the board announced that the matter will soon be resolved, as the club has secured a R$5 million loan to pay off its professional football debts.
Claiton could return to the team for the classic against Botafogo, next Sunday
The player trained with the ball this Thursday and has a good chance of being selected.
Rio - Midfielder Claiton could return to Flamengo's starting lineup for the derby against Botafogo next Sunday, in the third round of the Brazilian Championship. The player sustained an injury last week and has been recovering since then. He trained with the ball this Thursday and has a good chance of being selected.
Sports Gazette
Ney Franco satisfied with the reduction of the squad\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Preparing Flamengo's team to try for its second victory in the Brazilian Championship, Ney Franco is pleased to be working with a smaller squad now that the club has released some players like Roni, Bruno Mezenga, Leandro Salino, and Advaldo. "I had already mentioned the need to work with a smaller squad to have more quality. We've defined some names and now we have a standard squad. If someone isn't used, they'll train separately," commented the coach.
Of the players who left Flamengo this week, the one who drew the most attention was Roni, who started in a few Copa Libertadores and Campeonato Carioca matches. He was released to Cruzeiro without a fee. This Thursday morning, he was in Gávea to finalize his departure. He assured that he would leave Gávea without any hard feelings toward coach Ney Franco or the board.
"Flamengo was very friendly with me, both Neymar and the board, who understood my situation. I leave with peace of mind, as I've always given my all on the field for Flamengo. Now a good opportunity has arisen, and I'm moving on," commented Roni.
Vice president of football Kléber Leite also assured that Roni's release was a natural occurrence. "He wasn't being used as a starter. I spoke with Ney Franco about it, and we decided to release Roni," he stated.
Alongside the roster reduction, Flamengo ruled out any possibility of signing right-back Gabriel, recently released by Cruzeiro. The player, whose economic rights are tied to Málaga, was offered to the club.
Coach Ney Franco, however, is satisfied with Leonardo Moura's appointment. Suffering from financial problems, Flamengo hopes to save money by releasing some players. Furthermore, the board expects to pay the squad two months' worth of outstanding salaries next week.
Flamengo should not have any changes for the classic\ Gazeta Press\
Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Pleased with his team's strong performance in the victory over Goiás last weekend, coach Ney Franco is expected to repeat Flamengo's lineup for Sunday's derby against Botafogo at the Maracanã. As a result, midfielder Renato Augusto will once again be deployed in attack alongside Souza, who, despite complaining of muscle pain during the week, shouldn't be a problem for the match. "I think the formation Ney Franco used worked well against Goiás and could be repeated more often during the Brasileirão. I think everyone was able to adapt to what Ney wanted from the team," said Renato Augusto.
Midfielder Claiton, who also complained of an injury earlier in the week, has recovered and was confirmed by Ney Franco as a starter. Alongside him will be Renato, who, despite emphasizing the lack of time to adapt to the new formation, approves of the team remaining with three defenders.
"We only have one week of training, and we players know it's not enough. We've been playing a 4-4-2 since the beginning of the year, but if this new formation makes things easier for Neymar and us, we have to make ourselves available, as it's a formation that makes the team more consistent."
Renato also took the opportunity to comment on Botafogo's elimination in the Copa do Brasil semifinals. The Flamengo midfielder took a dig at his rival, who claimed he was wronged by the refereeing in the Campeonato Carioca final between the two clubs.
"They have to complain. We don't. They often said Botafogo was unfairly treated against Flamengo in the State Championship final, and here's the proof. They had another opportunity and didn't make it happen. But we have to be careful because they'll come out strong on Sunday," Renato commented.
Just as he had done the day before, when Souza and Juan clashed during training, Ney Franco ruled out any rift within the red-and-black squad. The coach called for calm so he could carry out his work. "We're in a calm week facing Botafogo; it's going to be a very important game, and this isn't the time for us to create a fuss," he emphasized.
PeléNet
Dinélson could leave Paraná and sign with Flamengo\ From the Newsroom\ In São Paulo\ One of Paraná's standout players in the first half of the year, point guard Dinélson could leave the Vila Capanema club. According to the club's president, José Carlos de Miranda, the midfielder has already been offered to Flamengo, and the player's future could be decided this week.\
"Kleber Leite [Flamengo's vice-president of football] assured us that he was offered to the Rio de Janeiro team by the player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, and that there will be a meeting this Thursday night to discuss the matter," the Paraná president told the newspaper Gazeta do Povo.
However, for the negotiation to be finalized, there is still a need for an agreement between Flamengo and Corinthians, the owner of the athlete's contract.
"Corinthians sent us a fax requesting the player's return, but what they asked for is in conflict with our contract. Now we're going to communicate with them to reach an agreement," Miranda said.
Dinélson says he's happy at Paraná, but he doesn't rule out leaving the club if a better offer comes along. "The situation is being resolved, I don't know what will happen yet. I won't even say what I want right now, because I don't have anything. But if it's a good offer for me, for everyone involved, that would be great," the athlete said.
According to José Carlos de Miranda, Paraná is interested in keeping the midfielder on its roster for the Brazilian Championship and the Copa Sudamericana. However, due to Paraná's internal politics, it will not compete with offers worth too much.
"It all depends on the negotiations between his [Dinélson] agent and Corinthians and Flamengo. Regardless, he's a very decent kid who wants to play for Paraná, but if there's an offer for him to earn four or five times more, for example, we can't compete," the Tricolor president added.
Dinélson is still recovering from injuries to both ankles and, having been absent in the first two rounds, should only return to the team now led by Pintado in the fourth round, against São Paulo.
But if the playmaker still doesn't return this Sunday, defensive midfielder Beto, who also missed the first few matches of the Brazilian Championship, will return to the team against Cruzeiro in the third round. The player has recovered from the muscle fatigue he suffered this season and will replace Xaves in the Tricolor midfield.
Kleber Leite mocks Montenegro and defends Ana Paula Oliveira\ Guilherme Toscano\ From Rio de Janeiro\ Kleber Leite, Flamengo's vice-president of football, commented with good humor on the sexist statements made by Botafogo's director Carlos Augusto Montenegro, who complained about linesman Ana Paula Oliveira due to the two goals scored by the black and white team that she disallowed in the match between the black and white team from Rio de Janeiro and Figueirense, in the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil.\
"If he complained about her because she's a woman, I think we have different tastes. Here at Flamengo, we appreciate the article. She's a very competent professional, as well as beautiful," said the club's director in a good-natured tone.
Despite his joking remarks, Kleber Leite expressed concern about the refereeing performance in Sunday's derby between Flamengo and Botafogo. He said the rival's officials are putting pressure on him to create an image of "poor things":
"It almost seems like Botafogo is a poor soul. The first goal disallowed by Ana Paula was very difficult and the second was debatable, but for me it was definitely offside. With all this pressure, the referee on Sunday might be forced to enter the field."
The vice-president of football also sent a message to the game's referee: "I just ask the referee to enter the field calmly and do his job."
Heber Roberto Lopes (PR) will referee the classic between Botafogo and Flamengo at Maracanã Stadium. He was the referee for the first leg of the Copa do Brasil semifinal between Fluminense and Brasiliense and, during the match, was involved in a controversial incident when he called back a missed penalty kick by Carlos Alberto, who managed to score on the second chance.
Souza and Claiton train normally and should face Botafogo\ Guilherme Toscano\ In Rio de Janeiro\ After the scares during the week, when they were spared from Flamengo training due to injury, midfielder Claiton and striker Souza participated normally in the training session this Thursday, in the rain, and should not be a problem for the match against Botafogo.\
"The doctors didn't want me to train, but I insisted. It was a good test, the field was wet, heavy and I held up well. I always said I wanted to participate in the game, I trained well and I'm ready," said Claiton.
The midfielder also spoke about his expectations for facing Botafogo, a team against which Flamengo has drawn three times this year and to whom the red-black team has not lost since 2004. In addition, the rival was also eliminated from the Copa do Brasil on Wednesday by Figueirense.
"We have to prepare for the best Botafogo possible. Regardless of whether they've been eliminated, we have to give our best and impose our rhythm. We can't think about the taboo; they have to think about breaking it," said the midfielder.
With the return of both starters, coach Ney Franco confirmed that the team that participated in Thursday's training session will likely be the same one that will face Botafogo. The coach repeated the lineup that beat Goiás 3-1 last Sunday.
"In the first game of the championship, we played without concentration, without enthusiasm. We felt the elimination in the Libertadores. Now, we have to play like we did against Goiás to get the victory and start achieving the consistency necessary to stay in good standing in the table," said Ney Franco.
Ney Franco lined up Flamengo with Bruno; Ronaldo Angelim, Irineu and Thiago; Leonardo Moura, Paulinho, Claiton, Renato, Renato Augusto and Juan; Souza.
In his farewell speech to Flamengo, Roni praises coach Ney Franco\ From the Newsroom\ In Rio de Janeiro\ Having been cleared to negotiate his transfer to Cruzeiro, Flamengo striker Roni appeared in Gávea this Thursday to say goodbye to his teammates and finalize the details of his contract termination. In his farewell speech, contrary to what most expected, the player made a point of praising coach Ney Franco.\
"I have the utmost respect for Neymar; he deserves the success he's having. I told him myself that the problems we had are behind us. I have to thank him for all the support he's given me here at the club," he told Rádio Brasil.
In March, during the match against Fluminense, the striker was substituted and left the Maracanã pitch gesturing a lot, making his dissatisfaction with the coach clear.
The player also stated that the club's leadership accepted his request to terminate his contract: "Kleber [Leite] and Ney [Franco] understood my situation." Not even the delayed salaries were a problem. "Everything is practically resolved, including the financial side," he summarized.
In the four months he spent at Gávea, the athlete scored only three goals and suffered boos from the fans. However, he chose to downplay the friction with the fans. "The most important fans for Roni are my wife and daughter," he summarized.
Despite admitting that his performance at the Rio de Janeiro club was poor, Roni was unable to pinpoint what had harmed his performance and praised the determination he demonstrated in this short period.
"It's difficult to say what was missing. I can say what wasn't missing: commitment and desire in training. Of course, some balls could have gone in, but now it's time to move on," he concluded.
Globo Sport
Kléber Leite mocks Montenegro\ Flamengo's director is concerned about the black and white fans' complaints about refereeing\ Fred Huber \
\ O Globo \ Kléber Leite joins the discussion on refereeing errors in Brazilian football \ The derby between Flamengo and Botafogo is next Sunday, but the atmosphere of provocation between the directors has already begun. This Thursday, after training at Gávea, the Rubro-Negro's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, met with the press to discuss the refereeing of Sunday's game. \
He fears that Alvinegro's complaints about last Wednesday's game against Figueirense will be reflected in the match against Fla.
"With the complaints, it seems like Botafogo is the poor guy; the referee ends up going into Sunday's game under duress. The plays they complain about are completely debatable, complicated situations. I hope the referee has a good game on Sunday, with a lot of peace of mind," he says.
Kléber Leite made a point of reminding everyone that referees don't only make mistakes against Botafogo. He cited Flamengo's second match against Defensor Sport in the Copa Libertadores at Maracanã as an example.
"The team that's been most affected by the refereeing lately is Flamengo. In the game against Defensor, we were robbed. That referee came here with bad intentions."
\ Lance\ Montenegro is outraged by the refereeing\ The director, with irony, commented on the statements made by Botafogo's vice-president of football, Carlos Augusto Montenegro, who said he didn't like women (assistant Ana Paula Oliveira was the target of the black and whites' main complaints) refereeing decisive matches.\
"We have a different team here. Our tastes are different. The professional in question is extremely competent," Kléber declares.
The referee for the match between Flamengo and Botafogo, in the third round of the Brazilian Championship, will be Heber Roberto Lopes, from the Paraná Federation.
Dinelson's agent meets with Fla\ Paranista president says that if the proposal is very good it will be difficult to keep the player\ GLOBOESPORTE.COM In Curitiba \ CHANGE THE\ FONT SIZE \ A-\ A+\
\ Lancepress \ Dinelson wants to stay at Paraná, but if the offer is good, he'll leave \ Paraná midfielder Dinelson may be packing his bags to play for Flamengo. The president of the Paraná club, José Carlos de Miranda, reported that the player's agent, Wagner Ribeiro, offered the midfielder to the Gávea team and that there will be a meeting this Thursday between the agent and Flamengo's vice president of football, Kleber Leite. \
- Kleber assured us that he was offered the job by the player's agent, and that there will be a meeting with Wagner Ribeiro on Thursday night to discuss the matter - said the president of Paraná, in a statement to the newspaper Gazeta do Povo.
The player did not participate in training on Thursday, fueling speculation about his future. The information was confirmed by the player himself, who is now awaiting an agreement between Paraná, Corinthians—the club that owns the player's federation rights—and Flamengo, a team interested in signing the midfielder. Also according to Miranda, Kleber Leite assured that the Rio de Janeiro club has not made any offer to Corinthians.
"For now, there's nothing to say; nothing's certain yet. What I know is the same as everyone else about all this speculation. I'm happy here in Paraná, and I'll only leave if it's a good offer," says Dinélson.
The player hinted that the deal depends on a supposed proposal that Flamengo's executives made to Corinthians. If Corinthians agrees to sell his federation rights, the player will certainly leave Tricolor.
On the Paranista side, the club's president, José Carlos de Miranda, confirmed that talks have already begun.
"Corinthians sent us a fax requesting the player's return, but what they requested is inconsistent with our contract. Now we'll contact them to reach an agreement. We'll wait for a concrete proposal. According to the contract, he (Dinélson) would only leave in July or January, when the negotiation window with Europe opens," he says.
Speculation gives even the player a headache
Since arriving at Paraná, Dinélson has never expressed any dissatisfaction with the club. Quite the contrary, he has always stated that he would like to fulfill his contract in full, until the end of this year, making an exception to leave only if a foreign club presented a good offer to the player, Tricolor, and Corinthians. The current uncertainty regarding his future also displeases the midfielder.
"The situation is being resolved, I don't know what will happen yet. I won't even say what I want at the moment, because I don't have anything. But if it's a good offer for me, for everyone involved, that would be great," says the player. This week, Dinélson has already returned to ball practice, fully recovered from the injuries to both ankles.
Still unsure whether to stay or leave, the midfielder assures he'll be available for the fourth round of the Brasileirão against São Paulo at Vila Capanema. The club's vice president of football, José Domingos, also hopes for this, even though he confirms it's difficult to keep him.
"The matter is being handled by President Miranda, and it's possible that Dinélson will leave us. Paraná doesn't hold anyone back; if the club's interests are protected, he could go to Flamengo," he explains.
Domingos' opinion converges with the thoughts of the president of Paraná.
"It all depends on his agent's negotiations with Corinthians and Flamengo. Regardless, Dinélson is a very decent kid who wants to play for Paraná, but there's the financial issue. If there's an offer for him to earn four or five times more, then he won't be able to compete," Miranda laments.
Fla's new darling is called Vinícius\ Midfielder receives praise from Kléber Leite and also goes by the surname Colombiano\ Márcio Iannacca\
Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, has a clinical eye when it comes to homegrown talent. Since returning to the helm of the red-and-black team in mid-2005, he has been spot-on in selecting the promising talents coach Ney Franco has tapped. The first was Renato Augusto. In 2007, striker Paulo Sérgio was promoted to the first team. Now, the director's new favorite has Coimbra as his surname and goes by the name Vinícius Colombiano.
Colombian? Flamengo fans must be wondering if the player is foreign. The answer is no. Vinícius's Colombian is one of his surnames, inherited from his father, Marcos. Kléber Leite makes no secret of his admiration for the player's football, who is only 19 years old.
"He's a midfielder who plays on the right and always plays with his head up. My hope is that he'll be promoted in the coming months. He's a player who always plays with his head held high and will bring a lot of joy to the fans," says the manager.
GLOBOESPORTE.COM met with Vinícius last Wednesday at a shopping mall in Barra da Tijuca, in Rio's west zone. Alongside his parents, Marcos and Cátia, the boy spoke about his dream of becoming a professional player for Flamengo and his friendship with Renato Augusto, a starter for Flamengo's first team.
"I played with Renato Augusto from the ages of 10 to 18. I gave him a lot of passes for goals. He's a great friend," reveals Vinícius, who is a fan of Kaká and Juninho Pernambucano.
THE FILE OF FLAMENGO'S NEW DARLING \ Name: Vinícius Coimbra Colombian \ Date of birth: 25/02/1988 \ Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro \ Height and weight: 1,83m and 78kg \ Clubs: In Futsal, Flamengo (1998-2000); Hebraica (2000) and Tio Sam (2002); On the field, Flamengo (since 2002). \ The Lyon midfielder, in fact, is used when Vinícius starts talking about his style. In addition to seeing similarities in his football with that of Juninho Pernambucano, the Flamengo midfielder has already been compared to another Brazilian football star.\
"Some people from Gávea call me Falcão. They say I have a classic style, a head-to-toe game. That's probably why," says Flamengo's new darling.
If he isn't promoted by the end of July, Vinícius will captain the youth team that will compete in a tournament in Malaysia. Flamengo will represent Brazil in the competition, which will also feature Boca Juniors, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and others.
\ GLOBOESPORTE.COM \ Vinícius Colombiano alongside his parents in Barra\ - It will be an important competition for Flamengo. I hope our team performs well and comes back with the trophy - says the player, who was born in Padre Miguel, but is already thinking about moving to Barra in Tijuca.\
Vinícius knows the pressure of playing for Flamengo. When asked about a memorable match for Flamengo, the Colombian immediately remembered a classic against Fluminense. The score? The team from Gávea won 4-1.
"It was a children's match. Renato Augusto and I played together. Our team lost the first game 4-1 in Xérem. In the return match, in Curicica, Flamengo needed to win by three goals, as a draw would have favored us. We won 4-1. I scored the second goal," he recalls.
Refereeing doesn't worry Ney Franco\ Coach says he only thinks about preparing the team to put in a good performance against Botafogo\ Fred Huber From GLOBOESPORTE.COM, in Rio de Janeiro \ CHANGE THE\ FONT SIZE \ A-\ A+\
\ Ag. O Globo\ Ney Franco believes Botafogo will be very strong despite the absences\ A cause for concern for vice president of football Kléber Leite, the officiating in the match between Flamengo and Botafogo doesn't seem to be bothering coach Ney Franco. He says his focus is solely on preparing the team to face the black and whites.\
"That doesn't worry me, I'm just concerned about the tactical aspect. I think Brazilian refereeing is very good," he says.
Botafogo is expected to face Flamengo with several players missing on Sunday. Luciano Almeida, Túlio, Juninho, Vágner, and Alex are all in the club's medical department. According to Ney Franco, nothing that will make things easier for the Flamengo fans.
- Their team has good spare parts - he concludes.
Renato says that, in Rio, Fla is the best\ Midfielder says that whoever says that Botafogo is at a higher level doesn't understand football\ Fred Huber From GLOBOESPORTE.COM, in Rio de Janeiro \ CHANGE THE\ FONT SIZE \ A-\ A+\
Reuters Midfielder Renato doesn't believe Botafogo will go soft after elimination After vice president of football Kléber Leite provoked Botafogo, it was captain Renato's turn to ruffle the feathers of Flamengo's opponent this Sunday in the Brazilian Championship. The midfielder disagrees with those who consider the Alvinegro the best team in Rio de Janeiro currently. He points to the results to reinforce his theory.
"Anyone who says Botafogo is better doesn't follow football. Here in Rio, I think we're the ones who are better; we were state champions. But everyone has their own opinion," he says.
Renato, however, doesn't believe Flamengo will have an easy time against coach Cuca's team. Not even the opponent's recent elimination from the Copa do Brasil, he says, will diminish Botafogo's quality.
"I think the elimination gives them more motivation, and they'll go into the field with the sole objective of winning the Brazilian Championship. It's going to be a very difficult game," he says.
Throw
Dinélson arrives at Flamengo this Monday\ Paraná supporter signs with the Rio de Janeiro club for three years, until 2010\ LANCEPRESS! \
After releasing several players, the board announced its first signing for the Brazilian Championship. As LANCE! reported in its edition on the 17th, midfielder Dinelson is being hired and will sign a three-year contract (until 2010). He will be officially presented this Monday and is already speaking as a Flamengo player.
Dinelson, 21, was on loan until December to Paraná, where he played in the Copa Libertadores. But Corinthians, the club's current owner, used one of its contractual clauses and requested the player's return via fax. Flamengo, in turn, has already reached an agreement with the São Paulo club.
The red-and-black board assumed an old debt Corinthians owes Dinelson and will retain 50% of his economic rights. The other half remains with the São Paulo club, which may demand something else in exchange for the player. Dinelson's salary is expected to be around R$45.
Paraná may also request compensation to avoid losing out. Some of the club's players may be loaned to both clubs. Vice President of Football Kléber Leite has been calling Dinélson. This Thursday, the director finalized the negotiations with player Wagner Ribeiro's agent.
At Corinthians, Dinelson was a teammate of Renato, with whom he has been in contact by phone in recent days. The player told LANCE! exclusively that he is fulfilling a dream.
"I played at the Maracanã against Flamengo and saw how special the fans are and how they push the team. It's a dream to wear this jersey, and I'll be very happy at Flamengo. I could see the wonderful people there and the joyful atmosphere. I'm very happy," said Dinelson, who aims to repeat his strong performances in Paraná and earn a call-up to the Olympics.
Bruno expects a stronger opponent in the classic\ Flamengo's goalkeeper understands that it will be worse to face a Botafogo recently eliminated from the Copa do Brasil\ \
Victor Carvalho
About to play the first classic of the 2007 Brazilian Championship, Flamengo goalkeeper Bruno talks about the fact of facing Botafogo right after they were eliminated from the Copa do Brasil, last Wednesday against Figueirense.
"We already know how they play; they're a tough team to beat. They have good ball control and work well with the ball at the back. We'll encounter difficulties and we'll have to overcome them. As for Botafogo being eliminated, they'll handle it in their stride. Despite the beating they took, they'll come out swinging. They're a great team, and it'll be tough to face them in this situation."
Botafogo's No. 1, Júlio César, was considered one of the main reasons for the elimination after failing to score the only goal for Figueirense. Bruno comments that this happens and believes in the Alvinegro goalkeeper's recovery.
"Júlio César is a great goalkeeper; unfortunately, these things happen. If he has the good head I believe he does, he'll be able to overcome this. He can't let himself get down," he concluded.
Kleber Leite defends Ana Paula Oliveira\ Manager guarantees that Fla has been more harmed by the referees\ LANCEPRESS! \
Concerned about potential pressure regarding the refereeing in this Sunday's derby, Flamengo vice president Kleber Leite defended assistant referee Ana Paula Oliveira. She has been heavily criticized by Botafogo representatives for her controversial performance last Wednesday, when the club faced Figueirense and was eliminated from the Copa do Brasil.
"The biggest screw-up in the recent history of Brazilian football refereeing isn't Botafogo, but Flamengo. What happened in our Libertadores match against Defensor Sport at Maracanã was absurd, as they put in a completely unprepared Argentine referee. Ana Paula Oliveira is a top-notch assistant referee," the Flamengo director assured.
Kleber took advantage of the topic to criticize Botafogo's vice president of football, Carlos Augusto Montenegro, who, among other things, criticized the selection of the assistant because she is a woman:
- We have different tastes here at Flamengo. Besides being very competent, Ana Paula is beautiful.
Further back, Renato hopes to repeat his performance\ In Ney Franco's new scheme, he will play as a second midfielder\ Victor Carvalho \
In his new role with Flamengo, midfielder Renato will be positioned deeper, as a second midfielder. This allows him to distribute the ball more calmly, as he did in last Sunday's match against Goiás.
During the match, he had seven seconds of possession while an opposing player was creating space. Renato passed the ball with his outside of the foot for Juan to score the Rubro-Negro's second goal in a 3-1 victory.
"It was seven seconds that I didn't even expect to happen. I never thought about disrespecting the opponent; I needed the player to give me the option, and he did. I made the pass and everything went well," said the number 11.
Ney Franco: 'Botafogo is the favorite'\ Flamengo coach doesn't count on his rival's low spirits on Sunday\ LANCEPRESS! \ Botafogo's elimination from the Copa do Brasil against Figueirense won't necessarily be a weapon for Flamengo in this Sunday's derby. This is the opinion of Flamengo coach Ney Franco, who still insists on favoritism for the black and white side.\
"Whether Botafogo is shaken by the elimination or not is entirely up to them. We can't dwell on that, but rather remember that we're facing one of the best teams in Brazil, which is the clear favorite. Botafogo already has six points in the Brazilian Championship and is in a better form than Flamengo. We'll have to play hard to win on Sunday," the coach assured.
Ney recalled that the Rubro-Negro players felt the elimination from the Libertadores against Defensor, from Uruguay, but explained that his team cannot enter the field with the black and white team's low spirits.
"We really felt the strain against Palmeiras (right after their elimination), both physically and emotionally. So much so that we had a listless first half, lacking concentration and enthusiasm, and we paid dearly for it. We can't under any circumstances expect to find a beaten-down team at the Maracanã," he recalled.
For Flamengo's coach, the fact that Botafogo is considered the favorite - even by him - will also have no influence when the ball rolls this Sunday:
"We've had three clashes with Botafogo this year, and they were considered favorites in all of them. But we always managed to play well and even won a title. Now the goal is to work towards our first derby win this year."