Flamengo

Like Zico returning to Flamengo, Lula is back at center-midfield, the undisputed leader and veteran of the squad.

The 19-year-old from Rio de Janeiro won both the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil with Flamengo last year but will now be moving to Palace for an undisclosed fee.

The move brings an end to a long transfer saga after French club Lyon tried to hijack the deal and Flamengo reneged on the deal they had already agreed with Wolves.

Meanwhile, there have been suggestions in his homeland that Flamengo and AC Milan were keen on signing the 24-year-old - but found him too expensive to prise from Spurs.

He could venture into the unknown and sign for Flamengo, in Brazil; he could earn an impossible, meaningless fortune in China; or he could take a substantial pay cut — much of his $4.4 million annual salary is dependent on bonuses — and join Brescia.

Little known in Brazil before his signing, Torrent published a video holding a Flamengo shirt and speaking in Portuguese.

SAO PAULO (AP) — Former New York City FC coach Domenech Torrent has ben named coach of Copa Libertadores and Brazilian defending champions Flamengo, the Rio de Janeiro-based giants said on Friday.

Striker ‘Gabigol’ and his support act Bruno Henrique became the stars of the campaign, but Spanish central defender Pablo Mari was the key to the success of Flamengo’s formation.

The 59-year-old has now invited Flamengo striker Pedro for the two games but with the PSG attacker not excused from their team camp.

This latest development will be a sad one for all Arsenal fans considering how superb Pablo Mari has been since he joined the North London side on loan from Flamengo.

Gerson, Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Everton Ribeiro were three of the best four midfielders, while both forwards, Gabriel Barbosa and Bruno Henrique, also came from Flamengo.

Striker Bruno Henrique opened the scoring for Flamengo with a header in the 69th minute.

Flamengo midfielder Diego was sent off 13 minutes into the second half.

Lucas Paqueta, Flamengo’s highly-rated young attacking midfielder, gets his first call-up as does Pedro, the 21-year-old Fluminense striker, Gremio’s 22-year-old left winger Everton, and Porto centre back Felipe.

Santos lost the Campeonato Paulista after finishing in third place but went on to win the Rio-São Paulo tournament after a 0–3 win over Flamengo in the final, with Pelé scoring one.