The possibility of having to leave Flamengo mid-season, when his loan contract with the club ends, no longer fazes fan Ibson. Unlike last year, when he grew tired of talking about a possible return to Porto, the player has decided to focus his attention solely on matters concerning Flamengo.

"I have six months left on my contract and I'm not thinking about anything else. I just want to fulfill my commitment and play. I have no reason to worry about whether I'll return to Porto or not. Everything I do today is focused solely on Flamengo," he declared.

Ibson is another who sees retaining the 2008 squad as a red-and-black advantage for the start of the season. The number 7 also praised the arrival of coach Cuca, a longtime Flamengo opponent.

"Cuca is a great professional. He built great teams and great groups at Botafogo, and I hope he repeats that here as well. He's a coach who will help us a lot and has a group ready to work."