De La Cruz hits back after Flamengo leak | OneFootball

Flamengo midfielder Nicolás De La Cruz has issued a subtle but pointed response after internal comments from the club’s chief medical officer, José Luiz Runco, describing his knee condition as “chronic and irreparable” were leaked to WhatsApp groups of club officials and ex-politicians, according to Lance, Globo, and UOL.

Runco’s private message, which surfaced this week, described De La Cruz as having arrived “without any real playing conditions” due to a persistent right knee injury and another issue in the left knee, stating: “We’re trying to do everything possible so that he can participate, but it’s very complicated.” He further suggested that should Flamengo sell De La Cruz, “only a club interested for another reason, not for competitive football” would proceed.

The message, apparently shared with what Runco believed was a limited group of insiders—including medical staff, club counselors, and ex-executives—quickly found its way into the public eye and sparked concern over both the player’s future and the handling of sensitive medical information at the club.

De La Cruz addressed the situation indirectly on his Instagram, posting, “Never let anyone tell you that you can’t do something,” a message widely understood as a retort to doubts over his career outlook. Fellow Uruguay international and Flamengo teammate Arrascaeta publicly backed De La Cruz, stating online: “It’s about looking after our own. Simple as that.”

The fallout extended to De La Cruz’s representatives. As reported by UOL, his entourage criticized Runco’s “lack of ethics,” arguing that such a public airing of the player’s condition was inappropriate and noting that De La Cruz had consistently played a heavy schedule for both Flamengo and Uruguay. They rejected the label of “chronic problem,” pointing to his frequent appearances—41 matches for Flamengo and 8 for Uruguay in 2024 alone—including a starting role throughout Copa América.

On the administrative side, Marcos Braz, who was Flamengo’s vice president of football at the time of De La Cruz’s signing, declined to comment on the controversy during a public appearance, saying, “If I spoke, we’d be on the front page of every newspaper, but out of respect, I won’t discuss it.”

Flamengo purchased De La Cruz from River Plate at the start of 2024 for a reported R$ 102 million. Since joining, he’s featured in 61 matches (54 as a starter), winning the Copa do Brasil, Supercopa do Brasil, and back-to-back state championships. However, his availability has waned in recent weeks. He did not feature against Fluminense or Bragantino, having not trained fully for more than a week. There is no new diagnosis of acute injury—his ongoing management relates to recurring symptoms in his right knee.

The club released a statement refusing to comment on the matter, branding the leak as a violation of privacy, and emphasizing its ongoing commitment to sporting goals.

(Sources: Lance, Globo, UOL)