The missteps behind Flamengo’s turbulent start to 2026 | OneFootball

Flamengo have tumbled from the highs of 2025 to an unprecedented crisis under Filipe Luís within two months.

According to Globo.com, a chain of missteps spans contract talks, planning, fitness, recruitment, rotation, errors, calendar adaptation and finishing.

Filipe Luís’s renewal slipped to 29 December rather than 25, a 2027 deal sealed only after concessions on finances, bonuses and a release clause, and the drawn-out process caused strain.

President Bap talked up spending, from R$ 1 billion in December to 40% or 50% more in February, comments seen as inflating the market and pressure.

A youth-team start to the Carioca collapsed after three poor games, Bap recalled the seniors, and institutional needs overrode technical and medical plans.

After the longest break in Série A, a 12 January return found some below par, opponents looked fitter, and Flamengo ended against Lanús exhausted, short of 100% for the Recopa.

Recruitment filled centre-back and goalkeeper, but a centre-forward to push Pedro remains absent amid his post-injury dip. Cruzeiro kept Kaio Jorge and Taty Castellanos joined West Ham, so with the window closing next Tuesday, a move likely waits until mid-year.

Constant rotation has undermined cohesion, and a once-reliable defence has wobbled amid costly individual errors.

Adaptation to the 2026 calendar has faltered, with four points from three league games and defeats in the Supercopa and Recopa. Only the 7-1 over Sampaio Corrêa and 3-0 against Madureira bucked low scoring, as Arrascaeta and Everton Cebolinha lead with three each, all the Uruguayan’s from penalties.

Source: Globo.com