Flamengo's Libertadores rivals Cruzeiro pull out of Brian Rodríguez deal

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Coluna do Fla

·4 August 2026

Flamengo's Libertadores rivals Cruzeiro pull out of Brian Rodríguez deal

Cruzeiro and Flamengo face each other in the Copa Libertadores Round of 16

The Copa Libertadores Round of 16 is approaching, and teams are rushing to strengthen their squads in time. While Flamengo tries to sign Thiago Almada, Cruzeiro announced this Tuesday (04) that it has withdrawn from negotiations for forward Brian Rodríguez, from América (MEX).

“Cruzeiro informs its fans that it will not continue talks to sign 26-year-old Uruguayan forward Brian Rodríguez from América. Raposa thanks the player, the club, and everyone else involved in the negotiations, which will not be completed,” Cruzeiro’s official profile posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Why did Cruzeiro pull out of the Brian Rodríguez deal?

The Minas Gerais club made three official offers to bring the player from Mexico. The last bid could reach 12 million euros (R$ 70 million at the current exchange rate). However, América asked for more to finalize the deal.

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According to Rádio Itatiaia, the winger’s staff was surprised by Cruzeiro’s withdrawal. ESPN’s reporting, meanwhile, says that the investigation into the Uruguayan for harassment in Mexico made the Minas Gerais club back away.

So, will Cruzeiro go into the Libertadores Round of 16 without reinforcements?

Another factor that may have contributed to Cruzeiro’s decision is that the team is also negotiating with forward Lucho Rodríguez from Neom SC (SAU). The group’s idea is to replace Gabriel Pec and Sinisterra, both injured.

Does Flamengo have reinforcements?

While Cruzeiro is moving toward replacements, Flamengo is facing difficulties in the market. Thiago Almada is the club’s main target in the transfer window, but Luiz Henrique is also wanted.

However, Mengo may have no absences against Cruzeiro in the first leg of the Libertadores Round of 16 on August 12. That is because the medical department has cleared Lucas Paquetá, who was recovering from a muscle injury in his thigh.

What is Flamengo’s next match?

Before facing Cruzeiro, Flamengo’s next game of the 2026 season will only take place next Sunday (09), when Mengo hosts Vitória in the Brasileirão. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã.

So, as usual, Coluna do Fla TV (YouTube) will show all the details of the match with the most Flamengo-focused on-site coverage on the internet, in addition to the website and social media. Finally, Premiere (pay-per-view) will broadcast the clash.

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