Love is definitely in the air at Flamengo. Officially introduced early last night as the club's new number 9, striker Vagner Love joined the squad this Saturday afternoon. After a presentation featuring music by Claudinho and Buchecha, the center forward was also greeted with a celebration by his new teammates. The squad returned from Porto Feliz, in the interior of São Paulo, where they completed their preseason training last night, and has already returned to training today, aiming for their Campeonato Carioca debut this Sunday against Caxias. Tired? No way. The players were so enthusiastic that they took the opportunity to give their new teammate a name.

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"Ooooh, Love has arrived!" chanted the red-and-black fans to welcome the Love Gunner, duly dressed in uniform and with red braids in his hair. Despite being considered a major signing and being warmly welcomed, Love couldn't escape the hazing. The squad quickly formed a tightrope, which the new number 9 was forced to navigate. But, since a love slap doesn't hurt (and his teammates took it easy), the striker emerged smiling from the game. Just like Fernando, who was signed last week.

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This was Vagner Love's first training session in a Flamengo jersey, and the team's last before the Campeonato Carioca kicked off. Leo Moura and Maldonado, recovering from injuries to their nose and knee, respectively, were at the club, but stayed in the gym. Coach Andrade hasn't yet confirmed the starting lineup for the team that will face Duque de Caxias, but he's expected to field Bruno; Everton Silva, Álvaro, David, and Léo Medeiros; Toró (Fernando), Willians, Kleberson, and Fierro (Vinicius Pacheco); Erick Flores (Gil), and Obina (Bruno Mezenga).

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Adriano released - Love's teammate in the red-and-black attack, already nicknamed the Empire of Love, however, did not participate in the celebration. Adriano was released by the board to celebrate his mother, Rosilda's, birthday. Since he will not debut with the team due to a blister on his left foot, the forward did not train with his teammates.

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Base spawn - Renan Silva, Wellington Pecka, and Antônio, who were brought up through Flamengo's youth academy and joined the rest of the squad at the beginning of the year, did not travel to Porto Feliz, but trained normally with their teammates at Gávea this Saturday. Paulo Sérgio also returned from a loan spell at Figueirense. Rafael Galhardo, who joined the U-20 national team, also participated in the training sessions. Goalkeeper Marcelo Carné, full-back Jorbison, and midfielder Saba were cleared to train with the youth squad, as they are scheduled for this Sunday's match against Caxias in the first round of the state championship.