Marcelo Fernandes, the Brazilian midfielder who has been one of the standout performers for Flamengo this season, is currently undergoing surgery to repair his ankle injury.
The 26-year-old forward suffered the injury in training on Monday night against Vitória de Guimarães, which was a setback for Flamengo as they were expected to be able to retain Marcelo at right-back next season.
However, Marcelo will now need to undergo further treatment before he can return to action. The club has confirmed that he will not be available for any matches until he is fully recovered.
In the meantime, the team have announced that they will make a change in their starting lineup, with Jorginho moving into the centre back role while João Menezes takes over in midfield.
Despite the setback, Marcelo remains optimistic about his chances of returning to full fitness soon. He said: "I'm confident that I'll be ready to play when I get back from my operation. I've had a lot of injuries throughout my career so it's important that I recover quickly."
While the injury update may leave fans disappointed, there is still plenty of reason to be hopeful for Marcelo's future. As he recovers, he will undoubtedly continue to be a key player for Flamengo, especially given their recent struggles.
It will be interesting to see how Marcelo performs during his recovery period and whether he can regain his form once he returns. For now, however, the focus should remain on the ongoing saga of the Brazilian midfielder's ankle injury.