Overview

• Flamengo terminated Dr. José Luiz Runco on July 24 after private WhatsApp messages in the “Flamengo Barra” group described Nicolás De la Cruz’s knee injuries as chronic and irreparable.
• The club issued an official statement condemning the leak and refused to comment on private medical discussions, underscoring its stance on confidentiality.
• De la Cruz’s agency, led by Paco Casal, publicly disputed the diagnosis as unethical and signaled potential legal action for damage to the player’s reputation.
• Midfielder Giorgian De Arrascaeta expressed solidarity with De la Cruz on social media, emphasizing the importance of supporting teammates.
• Flamengo has indicated it would consider transferring De la Cruz only if a club is interested for reasons unrelated to competitive football.