Cruzeiro lose another key man for Flamengo tie, sell Christian for R$56m | OneFootball

Christian will be Krasnodar’s (RUS) new signing

Cruzeiro will have another major absence for the clashes against Flamengo in the Copa Libertadores round of 16. After negotiating left back Kaiki Bruno’s move to Como, in Italy, the Minas Gerais side agreed to sell defensive midfielder Christian to Krasnodar, of Russia, further reducing coach Artur Jorge’s options for the continental knockout stage.

Flamengo and Cruzeiro will face off in the Libertadores round of 16. The first match will take place on August 12 at Mineirão. The return leg will be played on the 19th of the same month at Maracanã. Both matches are scheduled for 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time).

HOW MUCH WILL CRUZEIRO RECEIVE FOR CHRISTIAN?

Cruzeiro finalized Christian’s sale for around 11 million dollars (approximately R$ 56 million). The midfielder will no longer take part in the friendly against Defensor, from Uruguay, this Saturday (04), and will travel in the coming days to undergo medical exams before signing with Krasnodar.

The Russian club insisted on signing the player. In the first approach, Cruzeiro’s board refused to open negotiations because the offer was below 10 million dollars. After improving the bid, Krasnodar convinced Cruzeiro to complete the transfer.

HOW IMPORTANT IS CHRISTIAN TO CRUZEIRO?

Christian was one of the key players in Artur Jorge’s team. Although he is naturally a defensive midfielder, the player has been operating in a more advanced role since last season, still under Leonardo Jardim, who is currently at Flamengo. In 2026, the player made 33 appearances, scored eight goals, and provided three assists, establishing himself as an undisputed starter for Cruzeiro.

Signed in 2025 from Athletico-PR for around 2.7 million euros (R$ 17.5 million at the exchange rate at the time), Christian also posted impressive numbers in his first season with the Minas Gerais club, when he played 47 matches, found the net five times, and recorded four assists.

SO, WHAT ABSENCES WILL CRUZEIRO HAVE AGAINST FLAMENGO?

Christian’s departure represents yet another major loss for Cruzeiro ahead of the Libertadores showdown with Flamengo. Recently, the Minas Gerais side also negotiated left back Kaiki Bruno’s move to Como, in Italy, in a transfer valued between 14 and 15 million euros (around R$ 82.5 million to R$ 100 million). With two starting players sold in a short span of time, coach Artur Jorge will have to reorganize the team to face Flamengo in the round of 16 of the continental competition.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION, AFTER ALL?

— These are two important losses in Artur Jorge’s starting lineup. Kaiki and Christian are pillars of the coach’s first-choice eleven. The coach will have just over a month to reorganize the team and, even if he signs reinforcements, he will not have enough time to adapt the new players — said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist for Coluna do Fla.

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