With Vítor Pereira under observation, Flamengo evaluates changes in the squad and intensifies actions in the market

With a troubled planning, which predicted a beginning of 2023 in transformation due to the change of coach, Flamengo will remain convinced in the evolution under the command of Vítor Pereira, and from him to promote the necessary squad adjustments to remain in the dispute for titles. .

There are no questions regarding the coach’s ideas, just concern about how he will deal with the athletes to get the best out of them. Therefore, VP will be under observation, waiting for the evolution to happen without creating any kind of uncomfortable situation with the cast. The press conference in which the coach claims that Arrascaeta is not a player who provides so much balance to the team raised the alarm.

This Wednesday, Flamengo reappeared for training in Rabat, where Vítor Pereira had individual conversations with Arrascaeta and Gerson. Flamengo face Al Alhy on Saturday in Tangier, after FIFA changed the venue.

Possible changes include the negotiation of players and the arrival of other names for positions considered lacking in higher quality alternatives. And in this scenario, a “barge” begins to be drawn. In it, the first candidates are striker Marinho, midfielder Vidal and goalkeeper Hugo Souza.

For different reasons, the three did not give the expected return on the field and may seek new air until the middle of the year to make room for other arrivals. Marinho and Vidal have a contract until December, and are already evaluating possible destinations internally. Marinho was even sought after by Fortaleza at the end of last year, but his high salary is an obstacle to leaving. The fact is that Flamengo is in the market looking for wingers. And he already looked for Santos for striker Ângelo. But the deal hasn’t gone away yet.

Vidal, in turn, clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with the reserve, but at the age of 35, the internal assessment is that he is unable to contribute as a starter to replace João Gomes’ departure. The main reasons are physical. Flamengo tried again Wallace, from Udinese, and failed to advance. A steering wheel follows as a priority until April.

The hiring of Pulgar after the unsuccessful negotiations for Walace seemed to be a solution already foreseeing the departure of Gomes, but the Chilean has a different style of play, and when he did not have a sequence, he also did not establish himself when he had the opportunity. Recently, Pulgar was asked by Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla, and Flamengo was to later evaluate a possible departure from the midfield, who came from Fiorentina, Italy, and plays for the Chilean national team. Today, the sector has Thiago Maia as its only point of security. Gerson arrived with a more builder profile, not as much of a pursuer.

In the case of Hugo Souza, currently the third goalkeeper, Flamengo had the intention of negotiating him at the beginning of the year, but the athlete did not accept the proposals that appeared from Japan. He lost his place in line to Matheus Cunha, who went on to play for the State, and is just waiting for a destination. Other players at the end of their contract will have their situation evaluated so that the club can move forward in the market. The names of Rodrigo Caio and Bruno Henrique are kept in the director’s drawer so that they can assess their full recovery after serious injuries. Caio has already returned to the games, but BH only in the middle of the year. Of the two situations, Bruno Henrique’s seems more urgent to be resolved, as there are good defenders as an alternative, and wingers are scarce.

In this context, the return below by Everton Cebolinha is worrying. The player was bought from Benfica for almost R$100 million last year, and after almost eight months he still hasn’t said what he came for. The winger would be a solution for Flamengo to combine intensity and offensive and defensive power, but Cebolinha is unable to score a sequence and sustain a good phase. Which forces Vítor Pereira to be hostage to the titular offensive quartet.

After Arrascaeta’s substitution at half-time in the World Cup semifinal, the debate on who to move has returned to the forefront so that Flamengo reconciles talent with a competitive posture. Today, Éverton Ribeiro is the oldest player in the quartet (he will be 34 years old) and who has a contract that expires at the end of the year. Recently, the board valued Arrascaeta and placed it almost on the financial level of Gabigol.

This year, Pedro renewed his contract and also received a salary increase. Of the quartet, the striker is the one with the most market at the moment due to the trip to the World Cup and the endless good phase with many goals. Changing what is working is usually more difficult, but Vítor Pereira has the profile of not being intimidated by the name and brand of the athletes to make the necessary adjustments for the collective. With the disappointment at the Worlds, this path became easier. And it will also go through the indication of names to arrive and generate enough shadow in a champion squad and that plays, after all, a little with the name.