Flamengo was invited and confirmed last week its first participation in the Evergrande U-19 International Football Tournament. A sort of "World Championship" for the category, the competition will be played throughout the 2018-2019 season (following the European calendar) and will consist of 32 groups of eight teams each in its first stage, with the winners of each group qualifying for the final stage. The initial expectation is that "Mais Querido" will play in September 8, potentially returning for the final stage in March 2018. Opponents will be top teams from around the world, spanning every continent.

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"This is an excellent opportunity for cultural exchange and personal and professional development for our youth soccer players. We are very honored to have been invited by the competition organizers and are pleased to be able to provide this experience to our athletes still in development. It is a high-level competition, with hundreds of teams from around the world participating, where we will face off against a variety of playing styles and tactics. There is no doubt that we will benefit enormously in every aspect," said Luíz Carlos, Flamengo's youth soccer recruitment coordinator.

Rubro-Negro will be represented in the competition by athletes born in 2000 and who were recently two-time U-17 state champions. This is the case of goalkeeper Victor Hugo, left-back Ramon, midfielder Yuri and forwards Wendel and Vitor Gabriel, who were promoted to the U-20 team and are already part of the delegation that is in Porto Alegre for the Copa RS Internacional.

"If I'm actually called up to compete in this tournament, it will undoubtedly be a great honor for me. Having the chance to wear the Red-Black Sacred Mantle is always a source of pleasure and pride. In a high-level international competition, the responsibility grows even greater, as we'll be taking Flamengo's name to the world to see. Not to mention that it will be a new experience to experience a culture completely different from our own," said center forward Vitor Gabriel, top scorer in the last U-17 state championship with 15 goals.