Flamengo plan ‘special’ season programme for De La Cruz | OneFootball

Flamengo will manage De La Cruz through a bespoke plan across 2026, and he will miss the professional team’s season opener.

The club aim to distribute his minutes more evenly this year. According to GE, Filipe Luís will prioritise the midfielder for important fixtures.

Flamengo are not expected to use De La Cruz in Carioca matches, reflecting a desire to avoid spending minutes in the State Championship. In recent seasons he excelled there, then struggled to sustain form due to physical issues.

With those problems, load control is considered vital. Filipe Luís, in tandem with the medical department, will decide when the Uruguayan is rested.

He underwent a minor regenerative procedure using his own biological material to aid healing. Doctors drew blood from his hip bone and applied it to his left knee.

De La Cruz has a chronic issue in his right knee and developed inflammation in the left in 2025, which sidelined him from several matches. The medical staff implemented a special protocol last year and the plan is to keep it in 2026 to reduce the risk of serious injuries.

Source: Coluna Do Fla