Flamengo boosted by fitness race for key stars ahead of Club World Cup debut | OneFootball

Flamengo will head to the United States this week with optimism about the fitness of key signings Gonzalo Plata and Nicolás de la Cruz ahead of their Club World Cup opener against Espérance on June 16.

Plata has not played since the beginning of May due to a right knee issue sustained while with Ecuador. After returning to Rio last Friday following his exclusion from international duty, he underwent further assessments at the club’s training ground. Flamengo’s medical chief, Fernando Sassaki, confirmed that recent scans have shown improvement and Plata is now pain-free. While he remains in physiotherapy and was not involved in last Saturday’s training session, the expectation is that the Ecuadorian winger will be ready to feature from the start of the team’s campaign in Philadelphia.

Midfielder De la Cruz, who suffered a left knee sprain during the derby with Botafogo on May 18, is also progressing through his recovery. Sassaki said De la Cruz is currently focused on strength work, with a plan for him to rejoin full group training and feature in at least two sessions prior to the Espérance clash. Still, his final status will depend on how he responds during Flamengo’s preparations in the US.

The 23-man squad is scheduled to travel on Wednesday. Flamengo will face Espérance in Philadelphia before further group matches against Chelsea and Los Angeles FC. Financially, the club has already benefited from FIFA’s decision to release an initial payment of R$ 65.8 million (about $12 million USD) for participating in the tournament, a sum received in Brazil after FIFA revised its disbursement procedures. Further prize money will be determined by match results, with $2 million awarded per group stage win.

Former club president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello, reflecting on Flamengo’s build-up to the competition, praised the work of coach Filipe Luís and the team’s direction. “I’m excited. Facing clubs from a different tier is a major challenge, but I have no fear,” Bandeira de Mello said in a recent interview, expressing confidence in the club’s project both on and off the pitch.

Flamengo’s focus now lies in ensuring their top new additions are match-fit, as anything less than full strength could prove costly in a group featuring heavyweight opposition.

Source: Lance, Globo