Flamengo fitness team reveals what’s behind Arrascaeta’s standout season | OneFootball

Trainer Diogo Linhares and Doctor Fernando Sassaki Commented on Arrascaeta's Physical Condition

Arrascaeta enjoyed an excellent and injury-free 2025 season. Therefore, during Monday's (12th) press conference, physical trainer Diogo Linhares and doctor Fernando Sassaki discussed the Uruguayan's current condition and detailed the club's plan to ensure that 2026 is equally productive for the number 10.

— This season for Arrascaeta was of a very high level, as you mentioned. Numbers, playing time, metrics, days off. His availability rate is high, both here and with the National Team (Uruguayan). A work produced by many hands, especially Arrascaeta himself, as an athlete -, began Diogo Linhares, before continuing:

— Filipe (Luís), as a coach, with whom we sit and talk. We all are part of it, Laniyan (Neves), the club's physiotherapist who accompanies him the most. And the contact we also had with the trainers, the physiotherapists of the Uruguayan Federation. So we will have direct contact, seeing this reduction in minutes. But all this goes through Filipe as well, who understands, demands, and also talks about Arrascaeta -, he said.

— Our idea is to continue, to make this plan, understanding each season. We know we can improve this season. We know it's an atypical season, with the World Cup. So we sit down, study, and will outline the best strategy for the reality we will face this season. Not just for Arrascaeta, but individually for all our athletes -, concluded the physical trainer.

WHAT DID FLAMENGO'S DOCTOR SAY?

Furthermore, Flamengo's doctor, Fernando Sassaki, highlighted the experience and maturity of Arrascaeta as key factors for the excellent 2025 season. According to the professional, the Uruguayan knows his body well and shares important information with the medical team, allowing the club to find the ideal balance in physical preparation and maintain a virtually injury-free season.

— Just to add, Arrascaeta is an experienced athlete. And I think he has reached a level of maturity where he knows himself. So we greatly value his perception, what he says about his body. And based on that, actions are taken. So I also think it's a great merit of the athlete, who has reached a level of maturity -, said Fernando Sassaki.

— Of being able to give us information, information for the game, information for his physiotherapist. And we manage to find this balance point. And have this control and end up having a virtually clean season, without injury -, he stated.

WAS THE 2025 SEASON REALLY GOOD FOR ARRASCAETA?

Arrascaeta had a truly exceptional 2025 season. The number 10 played 64 matches, scored 25 goals, and provided 20 assists, surpassing his 2024 performance, when he participated in 43 games, scored 10 goals, and contributed 10 assists. In other words, the Uruguayan player played 21 more matches and practically doubled the numbers, showing consistency and physical resilience throughout the entire season.

Besides the individual numbers, Arrascaeta was decisive for Flamengo in winning important titles, such as the Libertadores and the Brasileirão. This high performance reflects exactly what Fernando Sassaki and Diogo Linhares highlighted: the athlete's maturity, knowledge of his own body, and constant partnership with the medical and physical preparation team allowed the star to maintain a high level of performance without significant injuries.

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