The Globe

Fla breaks with MSI and Bruno is out

Diego faces Atlético-MG. Today could also be Renato's farewell.

BELO HORIZONTE. Three days after revealing that Bruno had signed a contract extension and would remain at the club for another six months, Flamengo's board announced yesterday that he will not be staying. Today, after the match against Atlético-MG, at 16 pm, at Mineirão, Flamengo will release an official statement formalizing his departure. Flamengo may also officially say goodbye to Renato, who is transferring to Arab football.

The impasse was created because MSI, the company that owns Bruno's rights, did not agree to the extension.

"There's no way he's not out," said Kleber Leite, vice president of football, who had been following the goalkeeper's situation with optimism, but now has changed. "He was fair to us, but patience has its limits, and Flamengo has reached its limit. We can't be at MSI's mercy."

Informed that morning that the necessary documentation for him to be selected, since his contract with Flamengo ended on Saturday, had not been sent by MSI, Bruno left Toca da Raposa, where Flamengo is based, dissatisfied, sparking a wave of rumors about his departure. Was it rebellion, indiscipline?

"He lives next to Toca and asked to be released. I consulted Ney, who agreed," said Isaías Tinoco, football coordinator.

"Nothing happened. He knew he wasn't going to play and asked to sleep at home. He was released," Kleber confirms.

After Bruno, the next to leave is Renato. He had signed a pre-contract with Al-Nassr, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and has now signed a permanent contract. Renato was scheduled to play against São Paulo on Saturday, but even this plan could change. Another issue involving reinforcements and European clubs is midfielder Ibson. He wants to return to Flamengo. Porto, however, prefers to loan him to European clubs.

Atlético-MG: Diego, Coelho, Marcos, Vinicius and Thiago Feltri; Rafael Miranda, Bilu, Danilinho and Marcinho; Flamengo: Diego, Leonardo Moura, Irineu, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Paulinho, Jailton, Leo Medeiros and Leo Lima; Renato and Leonardo. Referee: Sergio Carvalho (DF).

BROADCAST: Rede Globo, Premiere and Rádio Globo

Fernando Calazans

Time to reflect

Let's look at the midfield lineup expected to play today for the Brazilian national team. Believe it or not: Gilberto Silva, Mineiro, Josué, and Júlio Batista. Now let's look at Flamengo's midfield lineup, also expected to play today: Paulinho, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, and Léo Lima. So, for those who know a little about Brazilian football, we have the national team and one of our biggest clubs.

Dunga's Brazilian team and Ney Franco's Flamengo: they're the spitting image of each other. The national team's midfield, of course, needs a little more quality. But only a little.

The philosophy, the panorama, the configuration, the thought are the same.

Coaches aside, the two lineups lead me to revisit a column from a few days ago, based on a thesis—a question—not mine, but from a reader aware of the current situation our five-time World Cup soccer team is going through. The question was: Is this the end of Brazilian hegemony?

I invite my dear friends in the press—particularly those who are as knowledgeable as you, readers, and knowledgeable about our football, its history, and its roots—to reflect on this topic. Is this really the end of Brazilian football's global dominance?

We have, just as examples, the midfield, considered the intellectual sector, the thinking sector, of the Brazilian national team, and the midfield of a club as grand as Flamengo. It could be another club, I know, it could be many. I remember Flamengo, as a Rio native. But is it a coincidence that, on the same day, Brazil's most important team—the national team—and one of its most important clubs—Flamengo—would field such paltry and basic lineups?

The national team coach is worse, isn't he? He has more resources, more variety, and more options than Flamengo's coach.

But even this one is hard to know that, in that mediocre company, Toró was dismissed. He hasn't lived up to expectations, it's true, but he might have a future. The others, not even that.

But that is not the issue, the preference of the two coaches, among others, for brute force, obtuseness, ignorance, to the detriment of intelligence, skill and talent.

The thing is, our players in general, both at the club and even on the national team, have been steadily declining in quality. Even with players constantly leaving for Europe, shouldn't a club like Flamengo be able to offer something better than Paulinho, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, and Léo Lima? Shouldn't Corinthians be able to offer something better than it is? Palmeiras? Vasco? Inter?

The questions I leave here, below the reader's initial question, are the following: Do we, the press, know what's happening in the youth divisions of Brazilian soccer? Do we know how this work is being conducted by Brazilian managers, supervisors, and coaches?

Why are Josué, Mineiro, Júlio Batista, Maicon, Elano, Afonso, Gilberto, Daniel Alves playing for the national team?

By the way, why is Dunga the coach of the Brazilian national team?

Sports Journal

Flamengo in high tension

Delay in renewal irritates goalkeeper Bruno, who is released and will not face Atlético-MG today

Leo Schabbach and Thiago Bokel

Bruno, who will not face Atlético today, was released by the club's board

On the eve of today's 16 p.m. game against Atlético-MG at Mineirão Stadium, Flamengo has a serious problem. The situation of goalkeeper Bruno, who had already announced his contract renewal with the club, has taken on new dimensions, and he may leave Gávea Stadium. The player was authorized to leave the hotel where the delegation was staying yesterday afternoon. That evening, vice president of football Kleber Leite released a statement saying he will comment on the matter today, after the game in Belo Horizonte.

Bruno's agent, Eduardo Uram, doesn't guarantee that the player will leave Gávea. He said the goalkeeper was excused from yesterday's training at CT Toca da Raposa 2 because it was confirmed that the player's contract wouldn't be renewed in time to ensure he's fit to play today.

"There's still no offer. Since the paperwork was delayed and Bruno's absence was confirmed, the coaching staff decided it was best to release him from training. Since his family is from Belo Horizonte, Bruno was allowed to spend the day with them," said Eduardo Uram in an interview with Rádio Manchete.

Coach Ney Franco, upon learning he could not count on Bruno, confirmed Diego's starting lineup. This will be a great opportunity for the young goalkeeper, who came through Flamengo's youth ranks, to prove that he can take over the Flamengo No. 1 jersey if Bruno were to leave.

"With Bruno out, Diego is in the starting lineup, as I had previously stated. I found out this afternoon that I couldn't count on him and thought it best to release him, as Bruno couldn't even be on the bench. In this case, I guarantee we were the last to know," explained the coach.

Another new development for today's match is Paulinho's return to the starting lineup. He ultimately won the battle with Toró and was confirmed by the coach in the starting lineup. The player expressed surprise at the decision.

"It was a first for me. I trained all week with the reserves and didn't expect Ney to pick me. I hope to deliver and help Flamengo win," said Paulinho.

Atletico-MG x Flamengo

Atlético-MG\ Diego, Coelho, Vinicius, Marcos and Thiago Feltri; Rafael Miranda, Bilu, Marcinho and Danilinho; Éder Luis and Vanderlei\ Coach: Zetti\

Flamengo\ Diego, Leonardo Moura, Irineu, Ronaldo Angelim and Juan; Paulinho, Jaílton, Léo Medeiros and Léo Lima; Renato and Leonardo\ Coach: Ney Franco\

Location: Mineirão\ Time: 16pm\ Referee: Sérgio da Silva Carvalho (DF)\ Assistants: Marrubson Melo Freitas (DF) and Eremilson Xavier Macedo (DF)\ Observer: José Eugênio (MG)\

Fla wants to lease Maracanã

Marcio Braga and a representative of a multinational company meet with the State Secretary of Sports

Leo Schabbach and Sergio Mello

Flamengo president Marcio Braga met yesterday afternoon with Eduardo Paes, Rio de Janeiro State Secretary of Sports, Leisure, and Tourism and president of Suderj (Rio de Janeiro State Sports Association), with a clear objective: to find the path to securing the Maracanã concession. Aware that the costs involved in realizing this dream will be significant, the Flamengo executive has been negotiating with a strong ally, Dean Bonham, president of the Bonham Group, and took him on a tour of the stadium.

"Deam Bonham is in Rio with me. He came to help me analyze the lease conditions for Maracanã and Engenhão. Today (yesterday) we were at Maracanã and spoke with Secretary Eduardo Paes. Although the bidding for Maracanã isn't ready yet, Deam and I will begin to develop the best possible strategy," revealed Marcio Braga.

The director didn't rule out the possibility of partnering with another club to manage Maracanã or Engenhão. "Ideally, we would manage the stadium ourselves, but we have nothing against sharing and partnering with another club. I'm optimistic about this; the prospects are very good," said an enthusiastic Marcio Braga.

Despite a busy schedule, Secretary Eduardo Paes spoke with JORNAL DOS SPORTS and revealed that the intention is to transfer the Maracanã and that Flamengo has the ideal profile. "We presented this project to Marcio Braga, and the meeting was very productive. Our intention is to form a partnership with one or two clubs, plus the private sector," Paes commented. The secretary made a point of emphasizing that the objective is not to privatize the Maracanã. And if Flamengo wins the bid, the stadium will be in good hands. "I want to make it very clear that this is not about privatizing the Maracanã, but about making a concession. If Flamengo wins, I'm sure the stadium will be well taken care of," stated Eduardo Paes.

Prosecutor tries to prevent construction work in Gávea

Construction of the long-awaited Gávea stadium has stalled amid a fierce legal battle between the local residents' association and the club.

Flamengo's Gávea revitalization project, which involves building a stadium for approximately 22 fans and a shopping mall with 212 stores, as well as 12 movie theaters, is stalled due to an injunction from the 4th Public Finance Court. However, this injunction isn't the biggest threat to the club's dream, but rather a lawsuit filed by Public Prosecutor Carlos Frederico Saturnino requesting that the State Attorney General's Office (PGE) recommend to Governor Sérgio Cabral that he veto the stadium's construction permit, which was decreed by former Governor Rosinha Garotinho.

The problem with this issue is that the Gávea land was initially granted to Flamengo with the legal guarantee that it could only be used for sporting and non-profit purposes, and the former governor issued a decree allowing the construction of a shopping mall. However, the repeal of the prohibition imposed on the land concession could only occur after a vote in the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj), through the approval of a new law. Therefore, it is possible to attempt, through legal mechanisms, to halt the construction at Gávea. However, the idea of ​​the prosecutor and Councilwoman Andrea Gouvêa Vieira (PSDB) is to get Governor Sérgio Cabral to suspend the decree without the need for legal action.

Flamengo president Márcio Braga stated that the club's legal department will analyze the possibilities of preventing the project from being halted. He also revealed that he will renew the construction license, which is currently expired and could be another obstacle to realizing the club's dream.

Downpour turns into summer rain for Rubro-Negro

Surprising everyone, coach Ney Franco confirmed yesterday's training session at CT Toca da Raposa 2 that he would field midfielder Paulinho in place of Toró. Interestingly, during the two weeks the team only trained, such a change was never considered. The coach didn't elaborate on the reason for the decision, simply saying it was because Paulinho performed well in training.

Since the Carioca final, Paulinho has been unable to establish himself in the starting lineup. After a strong start to the season, the midfielder's performance dropped off just as rumors surfaced that he was overindulging in nighttime events. However, nothing has been confirmed.

With Paulinho's lineup, Flamengo's playstyle changes. The team now has two defensive midfielders, breaking up the diamond formation coach Ney Franco had formed, with Toró and Léo Medeiros taking turns marking and creating plays. Jaílton was the only Flamengo midfielder solely responsible for marking.

The coach's choice is based on Atlético's counterattacks as one of its main weapons. By choosing two defensive defenders, he would be able to provide more protection for the defenders, preventing them from being exposed to the Minas Gerais team's speedy players. This will be the second time the two have played together in the red-and-black midfield. The first was in the second leg of the Carioca final, against Botafogo.

Ricardinho, ex-Cruzeiro, in Fla's sights

Flamengo's next signing for the season could be 31-year-old defensive midfielder Ricardinho, who was previously with Cruzeiro. The player terminated his contract on Monday and, as he has only played five times in the Brazilian Championship, could still play for another club in the competition.

Ricardinho also revealed that his decision to leave Cruzeiro had already been made almost a month ago, but that he preferred to wait until the Minas Gerais team was in a better position in the championship to finalize the termination.

"This had been on my mind for about a month, but the team was going through a difficult time and I preferred to wait for the right time. Unfortunately, my cycle here is over," said the player, who was reportedly approached by the club at the request of coach Ney Franco.

Another reinforcement that has gained momentum recently is midfielder Ibson. However, his arrival isn't straightforward, as Porto, the holder of his federation rights, still hopes to count on his talent.

According to some close to Ibson, he is dissatisfied with not having opportunities to play under the Portuguese team's current coach and has reportedly asked to be loaned out, as he would rather play for another club than not play at all. In turn, Porto demanded that the player renew his contract, valid until 2009, for another two years to release him. Furthermore, Ibson revealed that, if loaned out, he is only interested in playing for Flamengo.

O Dia

General stampede in Rio de Janeiro football

MSI leaves Rio de Janeiro football: Bruno and Carlos Alberto say goodbye to Fla and Flu

Janir Junior and Marluci Martins

Rio - Rio de Janeiro soccer is being defeated by the MSI investment fund. A 2-0 defeat, in fact, that seems impossible to come back from. Carlos Alberto ditched his tricolor uniform yesterday, and Bruno ditched his red-and-black jersey. Thus, Fluminense took the field yesterday without Carlos Alberto. Now, it's Bruno's turn to miss Flamengo today, and likely forever.

On Monday, Carlos Alberto was confirmed for the match against Paraná. Late yesterday afternoon, however, there was a twist: the midfielder was removed from the squad and said goodbye to Fluminense. The club received notice from the MSI ordering Carlos Alberto to stay out of the field.

According to the fax, the player is being negotiated with Werder Bremen in Germany. In the coming days, he will have to report to Corinthians, the club with which he has a contract. The sale of the player will yield US$1,5 million for the Tricolor. "The possibility of his departure was foreseen, now all that remains is to pay the fine, which will be practically the same as what was invested in him," said Celso Barros, president of the company that sponsors the club.

Branco, the Tricolor's football manager, stated that the negotiation affected the player's emotional state: "It was the fairest decision to take him out of the game, as the negotiation affected his mental health. Carlos Alberto will sort out his life, and we remain focused on the Brazilian Championship. It's a huge loss, as he was a quality player. But we have players with potential. If necessary, we will look for reinforcements."

Flamengo saw its negotiations turn upside down yesterday afternoon: after goalkeeper Bruno signed a six-month loan extension, the investment fund MSI withdrew from renewing the contract, which expired on Saturday.

With no chance of facing Atlético-MG today, Bruno left the Flamengo training camp in Belo Horizonte. Flamengo agreed to release the goalkeeper.

"From the entrance to Toca da Raposa, you can see Bruno's house. Therefore, we authorized his departure," stated Ney Franco.

Vice President of Football Kléber Leite travels to Minas Gerais today to speak with the goalkeeper. He admitted that Bruno is unlikely to remain at the club: "The possibility of him staying at Flamengo is very unlikely."

The director did not hide his disappointment regarding the withdrawal of the group of investors that holds Bruno's economic rights:

"We already have a position on this. But, out of consideration for Bruno, I won't say anything before talking to him."

Flamengo: It's time to get out of the red zone

Fla changes against Galo to escape the group of death: Diego and Paulinho are back

Marluci Martins

Rio - The idea is to change. Mainly, to change the team's position in the overall standings. Today, against Atlético-MG, starting at 16 p.m., Flamengo, currently in 18th place, plays to try to escape the Brasileirão relegation zone.

Coach Ney Franco decided at the last minute to change some of what was done during the training camp at Toca da Raposa. Instead of Toró, the starter in training in Minas Gerais, Paulinho will have another chance, playing alongside Jaílton, Léo Medeiros, and Léo Lima. That is, if the coach doesn't change his mind again.

But a change wasn't in Ney Franco's plans: as there was no agreement with the investment fund MSI, goalkeeper Bruno, out of contract since Saturday, is out of the game. Diego will take his place.

"Whenever there was any doubt about Bruno's participation in this game, we knew Diego would be his eventual replacement. There's no problem at all. Diego was already prepared for this," said Ney Franco, trying to reassure the team, which was caught off guard by Bruno's departure from the training camp yesterday.

If there's a last-minute change in goal and midfield for the red-and-blacks, the attack won't be left behind. With Souza suspended, Renato will play further forward, paired with Leonardo.

The idea of ​​change should also cross the minds of fans today. It's time to forget the rivalry and hope Vasco beats Santos. If that happens, Flamengo, with two games in hand, will overtake Vanderlei Luxemburgo's team, provided they can beat Galo.

MAXI DOESN'T TRAIN

Maxi Biancucci won't start training with his teammates until Monday, when the team will be back in Rio. The Argentine has been given permission to arrange a move to another country and choose a place to live in the city.

Stadium dream postponed

The dream of building a stadium and shopping mall in Gávea has moved a little further from reality. Judge Maria Paula Gouvêa Galhardo of the 4th Public Finance Court has suspended the construction permit.

The court claims that the site where Flamengo's headquarters is located belongs to the state. Furthermore, it alleges that increased traffic would be harmful to the environment. Flamengo's plan calls for the mall to have a stadium for 22.200 fans, 212 stores, and 12 movie theaters.

If Flamengo disobeys the court order, it will be severely punished: a daily fine of R$1 has been established if the club insists on building its dream stadium.

IBSON IN THE PLANS

Vice President of Football Kléber Leite admitted the possibility of Ibson being repatriated. Porto has no interest in the player and has already given his permission to negotiate his transfer. Ibson, who dreamed of staying in Europe, is on vacation in Rio.

Ibson's return to Flamengo should happen by the 10th

Rio - Good news for Flamengo fans. By July 10th, the club is expected to announce the return of midfielder Ibson, who is currently at Futebol Clube do Porto but was discovered at Gávea. According to the player's agent, Eduardo Uram, the Portuguese club has already decided that Ibson will be loaned out.

"We're working on the renewal of his contract with Porto, but it's already been decided that he'll be loaned out. However, Ibson has three offers from European clubs, and Porto wants him to stay in Europe. His desire is to return to Flamengo, and we understand that this is the best option and will happen," Uram told Rádio Brasil.

Ibson was scheduled to stay at Flamengo for one year, and the Gávea club will have to cover his salary. The player is on his honeymoon on the Rio coast.

Sports Gazette

Atlético-MG and Flamengo face off at Mineirão

Belo Horizonte (MG) - In the classic match between the reigning champions of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, respectively, Atlético-MG and Flamengo face off this Wednesday at 16 p.m. (Brasília time) at Mineirão Stadium, in a match valid for the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship. So far, Atlético-MG has had a better campaign, with 12 points from eight matches. With two games in hand due to the postponement of matches against Vasco and Juventude, Flamengo is in the relegation zone with six goals. Training only in the last two weeks, Flamengo is banking on the preparations made this season to return to winning ways. Despite some criticism from fans, coach Ney Franco remains confident.

"We had a great training session, where all the players dedicated themselves to it. I hope we can show the fruits of this work against Atlético-MG. If we win, I'm sure the team will regain morale for the upcoming games," commented the Flamengo coach.

To escape the relegation zone, Flamengo is counting on the return of midfielder Renato, who has missed the team's last two matches due to injury. The team's top scorer this season, the player doesn't want to shoulder the sole responsibility of improving the club's situation in the competition.

"It won't be Renato, Souza, or any of the players up front who will be Flamengo's savior. There's a team in place to get a good result and get Flamengo out of this awkward situation," said Renato, who could announce his move to Arab football next week.

With striker Souza serving a suspension, and youngster Paulo Sérgio still showing signs of inconsistency, coach Ney Franco decided to field Renato in attack, where he will play alongside Leonardo. The latter is confident the two will be able to gel well in the midfield. "The lack of synergy with Renato isn't a concern. He's good to play with because he likes to play deep. If I'm well positioned, I'll inevitably score," commented the Flamengo striker.

Ney Franco also made a last-minute change. At the training session held the day before the match, the coach decided to give defensive midfielder Paulinho another chance. Thus, Toró loses his starting spot.

At Atlético-MG, coach Zetti hopes the team will make the most of its home advantage to come away with the three points. But for that to happen, the Galo squad knows they'll need to overcome a struggling opponent.

"They're a team that's at the bottom of the table and will want to bounce back in the championship. We have to be aware that it's going to be a tough game; it's a national football classic, and we're ready to face Flamengo," said goalkeeper Diego.

Compared to the team that drew with Internacional last Saturday, Atlético-MG will make two changes. In midfield, Danilinho returns from suspension and replaces Renan. Defender Lima received his third yellow card and will be replaced by Vinícius. "I'm ready to do what my teammates are doing, which is giving their best and getting results," commented the defender.

Bruno leaves Flamengo\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Goalkeeper Bruno is indeed leaving Flamengo. Despite having reached an agreement to stay with the club for another six months, the player left the Rubro-Negro club on Tuesday when investors MSI (owner of his economic rights) decided not to renew his loan with the Rio de Janeiro club. Valued for his strong performances since arriving at Gávea, Bruno is expected to head to European football. Barcelona is reportedly interested in signing the player and loaning him to another European club, where Bruno would gain more experience.

Without Bruno, Diego has another chance to establish himself as a starter for Flamengo. However, Flamengo will have to look for another goalkeeper for the remainder of the season.

Flamengo waiting to reach an agreement with Ibson\ Gazeta Press\

Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - Flamengo is making no secret of its interest in signing defensive midfielder Ibson, who came through the ranks of the Rio de Janeiro club and currently plays for Porto. The player is not in the Portuguese team's plans, and he will be loaned to another club, and the Rubro-Negro da Gávea is in the running. "It's already clear that he will be loaned from Porto. What's being discussed now is where he will be loaned to. Three European clubs are interested, but we understand that from a sporting perspective, a return to Flamengo would be beneficial," the player's agent, Eduardo Uram, told Rádio Brasil on Tuesday.

According to the agent, Ibson would even be willing to give up more advantageous financial proposals.

"Flamengo is a club he likes, where he was very happy, and that's what's weighing on him, much more than the financial issue," he concluded.

PeléNet

Ending the winning streak is a common goal for Atlético-MG and Flamengo

Without a win in two games, Atlético-MG faces Flamengo, who are experiencing an even longer winless streak, having already lasted four matches, this Wednesday at 16 p.m. at Mineirão Stadium, a time that threatens to attract a large crowd, as is tradition for this national derby. For Atlético, a victory is considered a must because they are the home team, while for Flamengo, a win is an important opportunity to begin a comeback in the Brazilian Championship.

Flamengo hasn't played since June 16, when they drew with Internacional at Maracanã, falling into the relegation zone, and now they're expected to struggle to escape this uncomfortable situation. This Wednesday, without goalkeeper Bruno, who may even leave the club, the team begins an eight-match away streak in this Brazilian Championship—due to the closure of Maracanã and Engenhão for the Pan American Games—against Atlético-MG, a team they've never managed to win in Minas Gerais during the points-based era.

The last red-black victory was in 2002 and, since then, the Rio de Janeiro team has lost the three matches it played at Atlético-MG's home ground, one of which was a humiliating 6-1 defeat in Ipatinga in 2004. In 2003, the Minas Gerais team won 1-0, while in 2005, the score was 3-1. Last year, there was no match because Atlético-MG played in Série B.

Playing at home, even at 16 p.m. on a weekday, Atlético sees it as an opportunity to pick up three points against Flamengo and another three on Saturday against Grêmio, their second consecutive match at Mineirão Stadium. The black and white team has a 58,33% home record in the current competition and doesn't want to drop any more points in Belo Horizonte, after drawing 1-1 with Atlético-PR and losing 4-2 to rival Cruzeiro.

"These are six very important points for us, which could put us close to the top of the table, finishing in third or fourth place, within the Libertadores zone," said defender Vinícius, who will replace the suspended Lima. "If we want to achieve the goal we set at the beginning of the Championship, of finishing in the top four, this is our chance. We cannot miss this opportunity, with conscience and respect for Flamengo," he added. Atlético has 12 points from 24 games, a 50% performance.

The fact that Atlético are playing at home and the team's uncomfortable position in the standings, with six points out of a possible 18 (a 33,33% success rate), has led midfielder Renato to urge calm among the group. "We've dropped down the table and are aware of the importance of the next match. But we can't just focus on our current position, because that can increase anxiety. We need calmness to win matches and earn as many points as possible," the player advised.

Renato endured the suffocating threat of relegation with Flamengo in 2005, which lasted until the final rounds. Unlike the Rio de Janeiro club, which escaped relegation, Atlético-MG was relegated to Série B that year and, upon its return to the Brasileirão's top flight, maintains the core of the team that won the Segunda Division last year under Levir Culpi, who left the team after winning the 2007 Mineiro Championship. This coincides with another point, as Flamengo is the current Rio de Janeiro champion.

The red-and-black team's current predicament doesn't excite Atlético coach Zetti. "I had the opportunity to face Flamengo twice in the Libertadores. Flamengo is a solid team and can come back at any moment, so we shouldn't think they're down and it'll be easy. It'll be tough, just like the others we've faced; it's a matter of setting a rhythm," noted the coach, who, while in charge of Paraná, lost twice to Flamengo in this year's Libertadores.

Minas Gerais coach Ney Franco, in turn, seeks to encourage the squad with positive data. "I gave a talk to the players and showed them some numbers that are favorable to us. The top three teams, for example, are teams we've already faced and beaten this year. This proves we can be in a better situation than we are now; we have the team for it. We're going to resume the Brazilian Championship and begin our comeback," said the coach, "forgetting" that, despite winning the State Championship in the final against Botafogo, Flamengo hasn't defeated its rival this year.

the teams

Coach Zetti chose the experienced 30-year-old Vinícius as Lima's replacement, suspended with three yellow cards, leaving Rancharia, who played in the Mineiro championship for Democrata de Governador Valadares, on the bench. According to the coach, with the defender's entry, captain Marcos moves to the right side of the defense. With Lima, he plays on the left. "Vinícius is a left-footed player who has been training well and keeping up with the team. He's an athlete I trust," he explained.

Another change from the team that drew 1-1 with Internacional last round is the return of attacking midfielder Danilinho, replacing defensive midfielder Renan, who is an option on the bench. Striker Vanderlei continues to start alongside Éder Luís. New additions to the bench include Amilton, named for the first time, and Paulo Henrique, who missed the draw with Internacional.

At Flamengo, despite training the team with a specific formation throughout the preparations for the match against Atlético-MG, part of which took place at Toca da Raposa II, Cruzeiro's training center, coach Ney Franco decided to field a different lineup at the last minute. The coach had left out defensive midfielder Claiton and fielded a starting midfield of Jaílton, Toró, Léo Medeiros, and Léo Lima. Renato was moved up to play alongside Leonardo in attack, as Souza was suspended and Paulo Sérgio was also substituted.

However, in Tuesday's training session at Toca da Raposa II, Ney Franco replaced Toró with midfielder Paulinho, claiming he wanted to provide better protection for right-back Leonardo Moura. Despite having reached an agreement with Flamengo's board to stay until December, Bruno is out of the game. MSI, the investment fund that holds the player's economic rights, declined to renew his loan to the Rio de Janeiro club for another six months. Therefore, Diego will be the goalkeeper against Atlético.

Bruno will not face Atlético-MG and is expected to leave Flamengo

Goalkeeper Bruno is out of next Wednesday's Brazilian Championship match against Atlético-MG in Belo Horizonte. Although the player had already agreed with Flamengo's board to stay at Flamengo until December, MSI, the investment fund that holds the player's economic rights, declined to renew his loan with the Rio de Janeiro club for another six months.

This made it very likely that Bruno would soon leave Flamengo. The impasse reportedly arose because the Flamengo club hoped to renew the loan contract until December, which contained a clause that would automatically release the goalkeeper if he received an offer from abroad.

However, MSI, which has always made clear its desire to recoup its investment with a transfer of Bruno to Europe, would only be willing to renew the contract for another three months and then transfer the athlete to European football.

UOL Esporte attempted to contact Flamengo's vice president of football, Kléber Leite, to confirm whether Bruno would stay at the club. However, the executive's phone is off.

Later, Kléber Leite issued an official press release in which he promised to explain the imbroglio next Wednesday.

"Tomorrow [Wednesday], after the match against Atlético-MG, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo will issue an official statement regarding the situation of goalkeeper Bruno. The statement will only be issued tomorrow, out of consideration for the athlete, as the Vice-Presidency of Football wishes to speak personally with the player before making any statement," he informed.

In any case, late in the afternoon this Tuesday, Bruno left Flamengo's training camp at Toca da Raposa, Cruzeiro's training center, where the red-black team is preparing to face Atlético-MG.

The goalkeeper, who was released by football supervisor Isaías Tinoco, gathered his belongings and went to his family home in the capital of Minas Gerais in the company of some relatives.

BalloonSport

Galo x Fla: rivalry to the test in Minas

Atlético-MG wants to reach the starting group; Rio de Janeiro players avoid the danger zone

Danilinho (left) returns to Galo and Renato reinforces Flamengo. They are the highlights. The 434km distance between Belo Horizonte and Rio de Janeiro was unable to diminish the rivalry between Atlético-MG and Flamengo, which dates back to the 1980s. This Wednesday, at 16 pm, the two giants meet again at Mineirão, for the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship.

GLOBOESPORTE.COM will broadcast the match live with exclusive videos. TV Globo will also broadcast the game in Rio de Janeiro.

However, while teams once boasted Zico and Reinaldo, times have changed. Atlético-MG is undergoing a process of rebuilding after rising from Serie B. Flamengo, well, Flamengo, is suffering from a silent dismantling of its backbone.

Renato returns to Fla...

Unable to renew Bruno's contract, the red-and-black team is certain the goalkeeper will leave for European football. The same applies to Renato, who has a pre-contract with an Arab club. However, the latter is confirmed for Wednesday's game.

He returns to the Flamengo team after two rounds injured. His situation in the standings is dire. Flamengo is in the relegation zone, in 18th place, with six points. However, it's worth noting that the Rio de Janeiro team hasn't played since June 16th and has games in hand.

Betting on Renato's power, Ney Franco decided to field him in attack. The player has two goals in the current Brasileirão (watch one of them in the video above).

- Renato shoots very well and the closer to the goal, the better for him - declares the coach.

Signed this week, Argentine Maxi Biancucchi will only debut in August.

... and Danilinho reinforces Galo

Winless in their last two games, Atlético are counting on the return of attacking midfielder Danilinho, who sat out the 1-1 draw with Internacional last Saturday, serving a suspension. With that, the team is betting on an attacking approach, as he joins strikers Éder Luís, who scored a stunning goal in Porto.

Alegre (watch the video) and Vanderlei, who took Galvão's place.

The absence this time is defender Lima, who has three yellow cards, and will be replaced by Vinícius, who played in the 2-1 victory over Náutico at Mineirão Stadium in the first round. Vinícius is thrilled with the chance to start for Galo.

"It was the opportunity I've been waiting for, as I haven't played in a long time. But the important thing is that the team is a good unit, they're on a good run, and everything is going well. Atlético and Flamengo are clubs with a great tradition in Brazilian football, so I think it will be a very good match," says the defender.

Left-back Thiago Feltri says that a victory over their Rio rivals would be very important to motivate Galo.

"We know the rivalry that exists in this derby, and we'll give our all on the field to come away with the victory. Flamengo is a big rival of Atlético, and if we win, the fans will cheer us on even more in the next game," he told the club's official website.

Bruno leaves the Fla concentration

Goalkeeper will not face Atlético-MG this Wednesday and is almost out of Gávea\ Eduardo Peixoto\

Diego (right) takes Bruno's place at Flamengo. Bruno's celebrated contract renewal didn't even take two days. Late Tuesday afternoon, the goalkeeper left Flamengo's training camp in Belo Horizonte.

The fact is that MSI did not accept the red-black proposal for a contract renewal and the tendency is for the goalkeeper to leave Gávea and head to European football.

In the game against Atlético-MG, this Wednesday, Diego will be the starter.

Fla promises explanation about Bruno

Club says that, out of respect for the athlete, it postpones explanation until this Wednesday

Apparently, Flamengo's patience with the owners of Bruno's economic rights has run out. On Tuesday, the club announced that it will issue a final statement on the matter this Wednesday.

Check out the text written by Kléber Leite

"Tomorrow (Wednesday), after the match against Atlético Mineiro, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo will issue an official statement about the situation of goalkeeper Bruno.\ The official statement will only be issued tomorrow (Wednesday), out of consideration for the athlete, as the Vice-Presidency of Football wishes to speak personally with the player before making any statement."\

Ney surprises and takes Toró out of the team

After 15 days of training, coach changes Flamengo's lineup at the last minute

Toró loses his place in Flamengo's starting lineup in the last training session

Throughout Flamengo's preparations for the match against Atlético-MG, Toró trained with the starting lineup. However, on the eve of the match, coach Ney Franco decided to change the lineup.

During Tuesday morning's training session at Toca da Raposa II, Paulinho was recalled to the first team in Toró's place. He will form the midfield alongside Jaílton, Leo Medeiros, and Leo Lima.

The only question mark in Flamengo's lineup is in goal. Bruno hasn't been registered yet, and if he's not in Tuesday's Daily Information Bulletin (DIB), he'll give way to Diego.

The Rubro-negro enters the field with the following formation: Bruno (Diego); Leonardo Moura, Ronaldo Angelim, Irineu and Juan; Jaílton, Paulinho, Leo Medeiros and Leo Lima; Renato and Leonardo.

Throw

Goalkeeper Bruno is no longer a Flamengo player

The player leaves the training camp and is expected to be sold to Europe. The most likely destination is Barcelona.

Goalkeeper Bruno is no longer a Flamengo player. On Tuesday, the player, who had agreed to a contract renewal with the club, left the team's training camp, Toca da Raposa 2, and returned to his home in Belo Horizonte.

The biggest problem was MSI's investors, who refused to renew. The group's interest was to keep the player for just three months, then sell him to European football.

The values ​​have not yet been officially disclosed, but the player is expected to go to Barcelona, ​​who are expected to loan him to Espanyol or La Coruña.

Flamengo returns to action against Atlético-MG

Rubro-Negro is in the relegation zone, but with two games in hand

Rafael Ximenes and Raphael Nobre

After 18 days without playing in the Brazilian Championship, Flamengo faces Atlético-MG this Wednesday at 16 p.m. at Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte. Coach Ney Franco's team took advantage of the time to correct all the mistakes made in the first six rounds of the competition.

Flamengo, in 18th place with six points, trained for a period at Ninho do Urubu and then moved to Toca da Raposa 2 in Belo Horizonte. During this time, away from official matches, a lot happened for the Red-Black team.

After the 2-2 draw with Internacional on June 16th at Maracanã, midfielder Toró earned a starting spot in midfield, but in the last training session in the capital of Minas Gerais, Paulinho returned to the starting lineup with the claim of giving more marking power and freedom to the full-backs.

Another innovation in the derby against Galo is the selection of midfielder Renato in attack. The new position has been pleasing coach Ney Franco. In the middle, Léo Lima will have another chance, having performed poorly against Internacional.

But breaking news has resulted in Neymar being left with yet another absence, but this one for the remainder of the Brasileirão. Goalkeeper Bruno is expected to be traded to Europe and has left the team. Therefore, the one facing Galo will be Diego, who has only started twice this year (2-1 wins over Nova Iguaçu and Friburguense).

Furthermore, the Gávea team will have to seek rehabilitation in the competition away from home. The next eight matches will all be away, with the Paraná and América-RN matches being played in Minas Gerais, as they will be without the Maracanã stadium due to the Pan American Games.

The black and white team is trying to regain the victory it hasn't had since the rout over Figueirense on June 17. Since then, they've played two matches, a loss in the derby to Cruzeiro and a draw against Internacional.

To recover and try to return to the top four, Galo will have a new addition to its defense. With Lima suspended, after receiving his third yellow card in the match against Inter, Vinícius will form a central defense with Marcos. Meanwhile, the black-and-white coach will welcome the return of Danilinho. The player had served a suspension against Colorado, and according to Zetti, he was sorely missed by the team in the south. The player's return was even praised by the team's fitness coach.

"It's great to have the coach's trust. I hope my speed makes a difference against Flamengo. Fernando (the fitness coach) said I was flying in training. Since I missed the last game, I have to show my worth in training," he commented.

Up front, Galo will rely on Éder Luís, who has scored in each of the team's last three games. Marcinho, the Galo's standout player in the Campeonato Mineiro, has been heavily criticized by Atlético fans. Another player facing harsh criticism is Vanderlei. The striker hasn't scored in eight games but will have another opportunity in front of the black and white fans.

Goalkeeper Diego will start against Atlético-MG

Last game as a starter was in April, in the Campeonato Carioca\ LANCEPRESS!\

With goalkeeper Bruno possibly leaving for Europe, the one who will get the chance against Atlético-MG, this Wednesday, at 16 pm, at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, is Diego.

In 2006, before Bruno's arrival at the club, Diego made 43 starts for Rubro-Negro and conceded 51 goals.

This year, there were only two matches and 100% victories (2-1 over Nova Iguaçu and Friburguense).

The goalkeeper will need to gain the trust of Flamengo's fans, as he failed in several games last year and ended up losing his starting spot.

Last victory over Galo at Mineirão was in 2002

Top scorer Liédson was still playing for the red-black team\ Rafael Ximenes\

Flamengo will try to break this Wednesday, at 16 pm, a four-year winless streak against Atlético-MG at Mineirão.

The last positive result was on September 22, 2002: 3-0 over the Minas Gerais team, with goals from Zé Carlos and Liédson (2), when the championship was not even played on a points-based basis. Since then, there have been three more games at Mineirão and one in the interior of the state.

In 2003 and 2005 there were two defeats: 1-0 and 3-1, respectively, but the biggest embarrassment happened in 2004. The team went to Ipatinga to face a Galo threatened by relegation and was thrashed 6-1, at Ipatingão. Jean scored the consolation goal for the Cariocas.

In 2006, there was no Brasileirão clash. The two teams drew 0-0 at Mineirão Stadium in the Copa do Brasil, but the result favored Flamengo, who advanced to the semifinals and later became champions.

Paulinho wants to be Fla's darling again\ LANCEPRESS!\

Paulinho is eager to return to his former glory days. The Flamengo midfielder knows his capabilities and believes his form can return. In a humble tone, the player states that he is working hard to find his place and that, if he does play against Atlético-MG, he hopes to erase the Flamengo fans' memories of his recent inconsistent performances.

Ney Franco explains Paulinho's lineup

Coach intends to further strengthen the midfield against Atlético-MG\ Rodrigo Benchimol\

Unlike what has been happening in recent weeks, coach Ney Franco named Paulinho among the starters, confirming his selection in place of Toró for the match against Atlético-MG this Wednesday. After Tuesday's training session at Toca da Raposa 2, the coach explained his choice.

- Paulinho is doing well in training - the coach simply said.

Paulinho will play as a second man on the right flank. Ney's goal is to gain more defensive power in the middle to free up full-back Leonardo Moura. Ney also hopes to improve the attack.

The red-black team faces Atlético-MG, at Mineirão, in the ninth round of the Brazilian Championship.

and Bruno is expected to be out of action for Flamengo