Author: Monojit Mandal
The normal calm in Flamengo’s training area was interrupted when tempers flared during a recent training session. After being knocked out of the Copa Libertadores by Olimpia, the legendary Brazilian club is now dealing with internal turmoil that has hampered its preparations. According to Globo Esporte, a fight between Gerson and Guillermo Varela turned violent, resulting in a broken nose for the Uruguayan star.
According to sources, the incident occurred at the end of the training session, when Gerson hit Varela hard. The defense, clearly irritated by the midfielder’s conduct, got into a heated verbal argument. Gerson threw a punch that hit Varela square in the face, after he had dodged Varela’s efforts to react. Varela’s nose was fractured as a result of the fight, worsening the already tense atmosphere within the club.
Flamengo turned to their official channels to deal with the problem, as the news circulated immediately on social media. “Flamengo can confirm that the internal conflict between Gerson and Varela has been resolved”. “Preparations for the next game continue unabated,” the club declared, trying to calm the growing fears of its fan base.
However, this is far from an isolated incident among the team. Recently, another confrontation between players shook the club, with Pedro taking a blow from Pablo Hernandez. After the incident, Hernandez, a member of Jorge Sampaoli’s coaching staff, was quickly dismissed from his job.
Flamengo couldn’t have chosen a worse moment for this interruption. The team is trying to regain its composure as it prepares for an important match against Gremio in the second leg of the Copa do Brasil semi-finals. Despite winning the first leg 2-0, the club is well aware that complacency can be costly.
Flamengo FC, founded in 1895, has a long history in Brazilian soccer. The club’s presence on the pitch is clear, with a rich past that includes 37 wins in the Campeonato Carioca and a record seven triumphs in the Copa do Brasil. Flamengo also received worldwide recognition, being the first Brazilian team to win the Copa Libertadores on two occasions, in 1981 and 2019. The Maracanã Stadium has hosted the team’s home games since 1950, witnessing both their triumphs and tribulations.