Fluminense is preparing to face Cerro Porteño in the Libertadores, but the trip to Paraguay was surrounded by controversy. Before announcing the details for the trip to Assunção and, later, São Paulo, where Tricolor takes on Corinthians for the Brazilian championship in sequence, the club released an official note informing the departure of four young people. The rest of the cast, of course, did not go unharmed.
While boarding, the experienced Renato Augusto commented on the case. The midfielder admitted he was “surprised” by the episode that occurred in the concentration before the victory over Vasco at the weekend.
— It’s been a while since we’ve seen things like this. It’s bad for everyone’s image, the club, the athletes. The situation is delicate, but we cannot let this interfere with the field. Let’s focus on Thursday’s game and not create any more problems – he lamented to the channel Journey 1902.
John Kennedy, Alexsander, Arthur and Kauã Elias were dismissed for indiscipline for an indefinite period by Fluminense due to a party held at the hotel where the club was based. A Trivela found out that the recurrence of the first three was the reason for the joint decision of the technical committee and board.
How the Fluminense squad reacted to the dismissal
Leaders of the Fluminense squad were already aware of the youth’s indiscipline episode before the board’s decision. Felipe Melo, Marcelo, Ganso, Renato Augusto and Cano, among others, tend to be very concerned about the younger players, and are constantly seen in conversation circles with them, whether for guidance on the field or off it.
— We always try to help the kids. They will learn and it will remain in their minds, so they don’t have to do it again — said Cano, already in Paraguay.
Although Marcelo, Renato Augusto, Marquinhos and Douglas Costa appeared on video making fun of young Isaac’s birthday, the internal conversation was serious.
Part of the group had a conversation with those removed even before Fernando Diniz and the coaching staff. The board only supported the decision for punishment. The quartet is away until the players who traveled return. Only then will there be a new meeting to decide the duration of the suspension.
During the conversation, the young people apologized to the leaders for what happened and took responsibility for the events. A Trivela sought out Fluminense, which will not comment on the case beyond the published note.
The group agreed with the punishment and turned its attention to the Libertadores clash against Cerro Porteño, on Thursday (24), at 7pm, in La Nueva Olla, in Asunción, Paraguay. The atmosphere remains good among the players, who also joked about a supposed rift between experienced and young players based on rumors on social media.
John Kennedy becomes a ‘disappointment’ for Fluminense leaders
One case in particular really hurt the main players in the cast: John Kennedy. The most experienced among those on leave, the striker lives with cases of indiscipline, but enjoyed the trust of his elders.
The 21-year-old is seen internally as a different player technically, and his effort in training often causes the club to overlook episodes off the field. A Trivela heard some people from Fluminense’s daily life who used the word “disappointment” to talk about the player.
No one at CT Carlos Castilho, however, treats the attacker or the other three away as “lost cases”.
The idea is that the four players learn from the punishment, which will rule them out of two important games. Arthur and Kauã Elias gained space on the bench. Alexsander and John Kennedy were used again coming off the bench after their prominence in 2023. The quartet follows a normal training routine at the club until the return of the main squad.
See Fluminense’s lineup to face Cerro Porteño
- Goalkeepers: Fábio, Felipe Alves and Vitor Eudes
- Defenders: Antonio Carlos, Calegari, Diogo Barbosa, Felipe Andrade, Felipe Melo, Guga, Justen, Manoel, Marcelo and Samuel Xavier
- Socks: André, Lima, Martinelli, PH Ganso, Renato Augusto and Terans
- Attackers: Douglas Costa, Germán Cano, Isaac, Jhon Arias, Lucumí, Marquinhos and Matheus Reis
Fluminense tries to maintain leadership of group A of the Libertadores
Fluminense is the leader of Libertadores group A with 4 points from two games. Tricolor remains undefeated and is playing to maintain its lead in the group. Cerro Porteño is third with three points and is fighting to climb the table. On Tuesday night (23), Colo-Colo and Alianza Lima played out a goalless draw in Chile and remain in second and fourth place, respectively.
