Among Brazilian champions and players returning from loan spells, there are two newcomers to Flamengo's squad in Porto Feliz. Pulled from the youth team on the eve of their departure for the interior of São Paulo, goalkeeper Marcelo Carné and midfielder Victor Saba are enjoying their first days with the senior team. And they have an unusual request: they want to be hazed by the veterans in the squad.

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"It's part of the transition. We did that in the juniors too. We'd let the younger ones carry our things," said Saba.

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The goalkeeper, who in the hierarchy will be the fourth option behind Bruno, Marcelo Lomba and Paulo Victor, agrees with the "gift".

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- I think it would be good. Just don't humiliate him - he said, smiling.

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They began preseason training with the youth team. They trained in the morning at Ninho do Urubu and, while they were sleeping, were woken by youth coordinator Paulo Nascimento to receive the news that they would be integrated into the professional squad.

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They're both 19 years old and from Rio de Janeiro. A Copacabana native, Victor believes he was promoted because of Everton's sale to Tigres in Mexico.

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"I can play both left midfield and full-back. It's really cool to be participating in preseason alongside players like Kleberson and Adriano," he said.

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Marcelo has played for the U-15 and U-17 national teams, where he competed in the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio. If style is anything to go by, he's already well-adapted to the group. The Rio native from Sulacap doesn't go without the signature football brand clothing.

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"Oh, I've played with players who play abroad, like the twins Fábio and Rafael, and I've gotten to know their style. Even though the fourth goalkeeper doesn't get much of a chance to play, just training alongside captain Bruno is very important."