Flamengo rocked by De La Cruz knee bombshell | OneFootball

Flamengo midfielder Nicolás De La Cruz’s health has come under renewed scrutiny after internal comments by the club’s chief medical officer, José Luiz Runco, surfaced in private WhatsApp discussions among club insiders. According to Globo, Lance, and UOL, Runco described De La Cruz’s ongoing knee injuries as “chronic and irreparable,” and openly questioned the rationale behind the player’s high-profile — and high-priced — acquisition during the previous administration.

Runco, addressing other Flamengo officials and ex-officials, stated De La Cruz “was bought in another administration, with no real playing condition, because he has a chronic, irreparable lesion in his right knee, and also an issue in his left.” He acknowledged continued efforts to keep the Uruguayan available but called the process “very complicated.” Runco also suggested that a sale could only happen if a purchasing club were interested “for another reason and not competitive football.”

The leak of such a blunt assessment has triggered debate within Flamengo, not least because De La Cruz’s arrival from River Plate cost the club R$ 102 million and was meant to secure a long-term, impactful midfield presence. The deal took place under the leadership of former president Rodolfo Landim; Runco’s return to the medical staff coincided with the change in club leadership at the end of 2024.

Since joining Flamengo at the start of 2024, De La Cruz has amassed 61 appearances (54 as a starter), contributing three goals and six assists, and collecting multiple titles, including the 2024 Copa do Brasil and back-to-back state championships. However, his fitness situation has grown more challenging. After an eight-game starting streak between March and April, he began experiencing further setbacks in the middle of the year, regularly missing training sessions as staff managed his workload.

His most recent absence was from the squad to face Fluminense, after failing to recover sufficiently from his previous appearance against Santos. De La Cruz also will not feature against Bragantino, having not taken part in full training for over a week. According to Globo, while there is no new diagnosed acute injury, De La Cruz’s recurring right knee problem—exacerbated by surgical history on both knees—continues to hinder his ability to train and compete at a high level.

The fallout from Runco’s comments included a public show of support from Flamengo and Uruguay teammate Arrascaeta, who posted a message on social media alongside De La Cruz: “It’s about looking after our own. Simple as that.” De La Cruz himself also posted, “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something,” suggesting a determination to persist despite concern over his career longevity.

Flamengo, meanwhile, issued a statement saying it would not comment on private conversations, calling the context “normally out of place and, in some cases, obtained through improper means,” and reaffirmed its focus on sporting goals.

(Sources: Globo, Lance, UOL)