Flamengo secure key man’s early return after tense talks | OneFootball

Gonzalo Plata will return to Flamengo later this week to continue his recovery from a right knee injury, following an agreement between the club and Ecuador’s national team medical staff. The winger had initially traveled to Guayaquil and joined the Ecuador camp ahead of their match against Brazil, but did not participate in training and instead requested to be released from the squad.

Under FIFA regulations, Plata was required to report for national team duty after being called up. Nonetheless, after internal discussions, he asked head coach Sebastián Beccacece to facilitate his release. Both Flamengo and the Ecuadorian Football Federation confirmed late Tuesday that the player will remain with the national team for Thursday’s fixture against Brazil, before returning to Rio de Janeiro on Friday to resume his rehabilitation with Flamengo’s medical department.

Flamengo’s statement outlined the reasoning behind the decision, emphasizing that the priority is to ensure Plata is fully fit for the FIFA Club World Cup. The club described a “cordial” meeting between medical personnel from both teams on Tuesday and expressed gratitude to the Ecuadorian federation for its understanding and professionalism. For its part, the federation stated that after appropriate medical assessments and a cooperative meeting with Flamengo, a joint decision was reached for the player to return to his club following Ecuador’s next fixture.

Both organizations stressed the importance of prioritizing Plata’s health and underscored ongoing cooperation during the process. Flamengo added its thanks for a “constructive dialogue” and the federation issued an apology for any misunderstandings during the communication process.

Plata, who has yet to train fully since reporting for international duty, will now set his sights on achieving full fitness ahead of an important stretch in Flamengo’s season. The Rio club are scheduled to compete in the Club World Cup and view Plata’s recovery as critical for the coming weeks.

Source: Globo