Flamengo Libertadores rivals Cruzeiro pull out of Brian Rodríguez deal | OneFootball

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

The Copa Libertadores round of 16 is approaching, and the 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 While Flamengo tries to sign Thiago Almada, Cruzeiro announced this Tuesday (04) that it has withdrawn from negotiations to sign forward Brian Rodríguez from América (MEX).

Why did Cruzeiro pull out of the Brian Rodríguez deal?

The Minas Gerais side 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.

According to Rádio Itatiaia, the winger’s staff was surprised by Cruzeiro’s decision to pull out. ESPN’s reporting, meanwhile, says that the investigation into the Uruguayan over harassment allegations in Mexico made the Minas Gerais club back off.

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 in talks with forward Lucho Rodríguez from Neom SC (SAU). The group’s idea is to replace Gabriel Pec and Sinisterra, both of whom are injured.

Does Flamengo have reinforcements?

While Cruzeiro is lining up replacements, Flamengo is finding it difficult in the market. Thiago Almada is Flamengo’s main target in the transfer window, but Luiz Henrique is also wanted.

However, Mengo may not have any absences against Cruzeiro in the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 on August 12. That is because the medical department has cleared Lucas Paquetá, who had been recovering from a thigh muscle injury.

What is Flamengo’s next match?

Before 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.