Flamengo last Série A club to begin pre-season | OneFootball

Flamengo remain the only Série A side yet to start pre-season, with the squad due to report on Monday 12 at Ninho do Urubu.

According to Globo.com, players went on holiday on 18 December after losing to PSG in the Intercontinental Cup, delaying their return. They played 78 matches in 2025 and were granted an extra week of rest compared with other teams.

The congested calendar also reshaped pre-season plans. A United States tour offer had appealed to the board and coaching staff, but last year’s workload weighed against it. Flamengo valued the facilities at Ninho and keeping players close to family, with 2026 set to bring many competitions and trips.

In Rio de Janeiro, the rivals are already back. Botafogo returned on Monday, while Fluminense and Vasco split their groups. At Fluminense, leading players head to the CT on Thursday, and at Vasco Tuesday’s session was already complete.

In the interim, the under-20s coached by Bruno Pivetti will start Flamengo’s season. They reported on 18 December and will play at least the first three Carioca rounds against Portuguesa, Bangu and Volta Redonda.

Many of those youngsters featured recently in the final round of the 2025 Brasileiro when Flamengo faced Mirassol. The club skipped the Copinha to focus on the state competition, judging there were not enough players for both tournaments.

Source: Globo.com