Marcos Braz hits back at claims De La Cruz was a bad Flamengo signing | OneFootball

De La Cruz has been at Flamengo since 2023, when he left River Plate (ARG)

Nicolás De La Cruz often sparks debate at Flamengo, as he deals with recurring physical problems. However, congressman Marcos Braz, the former vice president of the Rubro-Negro, stressed that the club made the right call in signing the Uruguayan in 2023, since he was important in 2024.

– First, I’m not a doctor. Second, he was more than recommended by the coaching staff. And third, he played in World Cups and for River Plate (ARG). How did it not work out? Technically? Sportingly? He was important in 2024 –, said Braz, who added:

– I speak about this matter very naturally. The player passed the medical exams. It’s very shallow to say there was a process error. De La Cruz was handled through the same process as other signings –, he told Basticast on Monday (27).

What is De La Cruz’s situation at Flamengo?

Rodolfo Landim’s administration, with Braz, paid 16 million dollars (R$ 77.7 million, at the exchange rate at the time) to sign the player from River. However, the midfielder’s absence in some matches became a topic in the media.

The player’s name was even involved in a controversy with José Luiz Runco, the club’s former head of the medical department. In a WhatsApp message, the doctor said De La Cruz is not capable of playing competitive football, which resulted in his dismissal.

“He has a chronic and irreparable injury in his right knee, and also an injury in his left knee (…) And as for a sale, only if there is a club interested for some other reason and not to play competitive football,” the doctor said in July 2025.

What are De La Cruz’s numbers at Flamengo?

In 2026, the Uruguayan has played 19 of the 40 matches that the Most Beloved has had so far. Thus, that number is 16 games fewer than Pedro’s total, the player with the most appearances in the squad. On artificial turf, for example, the midfielder is rested.

Over his entire spell so far, he has four goals and seven assists in 94 matches. By way of comparison, in 2021, the Uruguayan played 48 matches for River Plate, which was the season with the most appearances of his career.

What is the author’s opinion about De La Cruz and Braz?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.