Overview

• Dr. José Luiz Runco’s private messages in the “Flamengo Barra” chat diagnosed bilateral knee damage in Nicolás De la Cruz as chronic and irreparable.
• Flamengo issued a statement declining to comment on personal conversations and reaffirmed its commitment to sporting objectives for the second half of the season.
• The 28-year-old Uruguayan was omitted from consecutive matchday squads, including the recent Rio de Janeiro derby against Fluminense.
• De la Cruz responded with a defiant Instagram post and his agency, led by Paco Casal, has formally challenged the medical assessment and signaled potential legal measures.
• The club indicated any sale would be for noncompetitive reasons, casting uncertainty over the midfielder’s immediate playing prospects and contractual valuation.