Zico reveals Arrascaeta’s 2025 secret, tips for Filipe Luís

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·26 Desember 2025

Zico reveals Arrascaeta’s 2025 secret, tips for Filipe Luís

Zico was asked about the possibility of playing alongside Arrascaeta

Arrascaeta is the best player in South America in 2025. Star of the Libertadores and the Brasileirão, the number 10 shined. For Zico, the Uruguayan’s success was due to coach Filipe Luís’s decision to relieve the midfielder of defensive duties on the field.

— This change in Arrascaeta has a lot to do with Filipe Luís. Filipe Luís understood and knows who is the guy who decides, who is the guy who scores. He sets everything up so that, in the end, Arrascaeta gets into the box. He gave Arrascaeta more freedom not to track back as much as he did under Jorge Jesus. Arrascaeta is older, time goes by, so you have to know how to use him better. I did this with Alex at Fenerbahçe. I said: “I don’t want you far from the goal, man. You score goals, you put guys in front of the goal, and you’re going to play back there, just setting up the play? No way. Let someone else do that, let someone else run for you. Stay there, I want you close to the goal and that’s it” — said Zico. — Filipe Luís did that. I talked to him, I’ve spoken to him a lot. And he told me: I have to put someone there to decide that final ball, with quality. So, you see that Flamengo’s plays are all set up and, many times, Arrascaeta arrives slowly and, boom, someone passes it back, he gets there and scores. You have to know how to use what the guy does best. Who finishes better than Arrascaeta at Flamengo today? There isn’t anyone. He gives that little touch, that beautiful flick, both with his right and left foot. Just with style. Before, you saw Arrascaeta, it was just passing. Most of Bruno Henrique’s and Gabigol’s goals were started by him and Everton Ribeiro, the two who organized things. Not anymore. Now he starts the play, but he gets there to finish it — concluded Galinho, to SporTV.

CAN YOU IMAGINE THIS DUO PLAYING TOGETHER?

Zico is, without a doubt, the greatest idol in the history of Flamengo. However, for some fans, after 2025, Arrascaeta became second in this ranking. If the Uruguayan had played in the 70s, or if Galinho played today, would there be room for both in the starting lineup? In this way, the eternal number 10 from Gávea has no doubts.

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— They would play together, of course they would. He started well on the left side and moved towards the middle. I started on the right to come to the middle. Tita played the same position as me. Lico was in the same position too, so it was me, them, and Adílio. We managed there. The important thing is for everyone to be well, wanting to do it, and trained to do it. The more talent, the better. More quality. You know where the ball is coming from, you can go blindly, and it will get there — Zico concluded.

There is a possibility that Arrascaeta and Zico will play together this Saturday (27th), at Maracanã, in the Game of the Stars, promoted by Galinho. The Uruguayan is confirmed to attend the event, which starts at 6:30 pm (Brasília time). However, the ‘greatest of all’ is doubtful for the match, due to severe knee pain.

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