Investing in the youth teams has long been a key to success at Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. The 2010 season will be no different. Three athletes have been promoted from the club's youth team to train alongside the senior squad. Defensive midfielders Antônio and Wellington Pecka, as well as midfielder Renan Silva, are training with the group this Tuesday and, if their evaluations are positive, will travel to Porto Feliz with the rest of the squad.

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In addition, young full-backs Rafael Galhardo and Jorbison remain at Gávea. Both are on the Brazilian U-20 team, competing in an international tournament, as is forward Diego Maurício, who is also expected to join the senior squad. Another youth player who will have an opportunity to be evaluated by Andrade is midfielder João Vitor, who is competing in the São Paulo Junior Football Cup.

Paulo Victor, Marcelo Lomba, Wellinton, Mezenga, Lenon, Rômulo, Erick Flores, Guilherme Camacho, and Fabrício, also from the youth academy, were other players who performed normally. Youngsters returning from loan spells also performed, such as William Amendoim and Paulo Sérgio.

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Get to know a little more about the newcomers to the red-black team:

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Antonio - The defensive midfielder combines two basic characteristics of the so-called "modern defensive midfielder": strong marking ability, combined with a good passing style. Antônio Carlos Rodrigues dos Santos, 20, began his career on the courts of the Vila Isabel neighborhood in Rio's north zone. Before playing for Flamengo, he played futsal for Fluminense. In two years, the first as a sophomore in the youth team and the second as a junior in the junior team, he won five trophies, including two Campeonato Carioca titles, one in each category. In the 2008 season, Antônio will remain with the junior team, his second and final year in the category, aiming to perform well with the team throughout the year and reach the professional ranks the following year.

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Pecka - Another player promoted in the hopes of filling in for Airton, who was traded, and Maldonado, who was injured at the start of the season. Like his teammate Antônio, he stands out not only for his marking ability but also for his quality passing when leaving the game. He played for the youth teams and, last season, represented the red-and-black team in the youth team. He did some training with the senior team, but didn't play a single match this year. Wellington Jorge de Estanislau Paeckart turns 20 on May 2nd.

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Renan Silva - One of the great hopes for creativity in the Flamengo midfield since the youth teams. A player with good physical stature and excellent passing ability, he was the last creative midfielder from the 1989 generation to be promoted to the senior team. He followed in the footsteps of Erick Flores and Guilherme Camacho and now hopes to seize the opportunity he will have under Andrade. In two years, the first as a second-year youth player and the second as a first-year junior player, he won five trophies, including two Campeonato Carioca titles, one in each category. In the 2008 season, Antônio will remain with the junior team, his second and final year in the category, aiming to perform well with the team throughout the year and achieve a promotion to the senior team the following year.