Negotiations between Flamengo and Cruzeiro to exchange Zé Roberto for Wellington Paulista fell through, and the midfielder remains in Gávea for the Brazilian Championship, Copa do Brasil, and Copa Sudamericana. In his post-training press conference on Tuesday, Zé Roberto stated that his first option was always to stay at Flamengo.

"I'm happy to stay at Flamengo. I didn't want to leave. The negotiations weren't my doing. It's still too early to leave, and I'm even more motivated to work here. I have the confidence of the coach and the entire group, which makes me even more motivated and excited. I like the club, I feel good here, and I hope to turn things around. I know I haven't performed as expected of me yet, but I haven't forgotten how to play football. Sometimes a player needs more time to adapt to the team and get into shape. Anxiety also got in the way a bit. Now I hope to help Flamengo achieve victories."