Football Season Guide

Fluminense FC

In


Agenor (gk) Guarani; Ezequiel (def) Cruzeiro; Matheus Ferraz (def) Guarani; Leo Santos (def) Corinthians – on loan; Nino (def) Criciúma – on loan; Mascarenhas (def) Atlético Goianense – return from loan; Paulo Henrique Ganso (mid) Sevilla, SPA; Caio Henrique (mid) Paraná – on loan from At. Madríd, SPA; Ewandro Costa (att) Austria Wien, AUT – on loan from Udinese, ITA; Leo Artur (att) Ferrovária – on loan

Out


Nathan Ribeiro (sp)(def) Fortaleza – on loan; Roger Ibanez (r)(def) Atalanta, ITA; Ygor Nogueira (sp)(def) Figueirense – on loan; Renato Chaves (r)(def) Al-Wehda, SAU; Gum (k)(def) Chapecoense; Luan Peres (sp)(def) Club Brugges, BEL; Leo (r)(def) São Paulo; Ayton Lucas (r)(def) Spartak Moscow, RUS; Junior Sornoza (k)(mid) Corinthians; Jadson (r)(mid) Cruzeiro; Fernando Neto (sp)(mid) Paraná; Richard (r)(mid) Corinthians; Marcos Júnior (sp)(att) Yokohama Marinos, JAP; Júnior Dutra (sp)(att) Al-Nasr, UAE; Kayke (sp)(att) Goiás; Bryan Cabezas (sp)(att) Emelec, ECU

Ever since the title in 2012, Flu has been highly disappointing, and last season was yet another bottom half position from Tricolores. Deep financial troubles and a severe injury in their only real talent brought Fluminense into being involved in the relegation race until late in the season. The financial crisis still affects the club, which was perceptible in the way the team approached the transfer market. Some important players have left, such as Gum, Ayrton, Leo, Richard, Jadson or even Junior Sornoza who was the team's biggest refference after Pedro’s injury. Leo Santos is a good add for the defence, but there haven’t been many other exciting new signings. The team will be highly dependent on two uncertain things to avoid another negative season: a quick and safe recovery of key striker Pedro and the emergence of some new talents. Fluminense will be heavily relying on the talent of their biggest signing for 2019, PH Ganso. The former wonderkid has been a disappointment almost everywhere he has been, but he may have the ideal conditions to shine again in a team where he will be the undisputed maestro. In a very demanding season like the one approaching, there will be many times where Ganso and Pedro won’t be available. The side won’t look menacing to any team in Série A without those two.

Target


While the name and the history of the club makes it sound cruel, the truth is that Flu is expected to be hovering the red zone, at best, this season. Finishing on the top half of the table would be considered a high success.