Forward Everton Cebolinha has been cut from the Flamengo squad that traveled to Ecuador. The player is returning to Rio de Janeiro to address personal matters ahead of the decisive match.
Flamengo‘s preparations for their Copa Libertadores quarter-final clash against Independiente del Valle have undergone a last-minute change.
Forward Everton Cebolinha was released by the coaching staff and will not continue with the squad to Quito. According to an official statement issued by the club, the athlete needed to return to Brazil to handle “personal matters.”
The player was part of the group that was in Belém for the match against Remo in the Brazilian Serie A, where he remained on the bench during the 1-0 victory.
The news comes as a surprise due to the proximity of the international duel, sparking speculation about a possible conclusion to his tenure at the Rio-based club.
Uncertain future in the transfer market
Cebolinha‘s absence comes at a time of complete uncertainty regarding his future at Gávea.
With his contract running only until December, the forward has already publicly expressed a desire to seek new challenges starting in 2027.
The Flamengo board, for its part, has adopted a flexible stance, signaling that it will not create obstacles to a potential transfer, provided that the terms meet their expectations.
Regulations and interest from rivals
The situation is complicated by Brazilian Serie A regulations.
Since he has appeared in only 12 matches in the competition so far, Everton Cebolinha is still legally permitted to transfer to another Serie A club.
Had he played a 13th match, he would have been ineligible to represent any other team in the national tournament.
Teams such as Botafogo and Grêmio are closely monitoring the forward’s situation, evaluating the viability of a deal.
As of this writing, no official proposal has been confirmed, but behind-the-scenes developments suggest the player’s departure could be accelerated in the coming weeks.
Impact for Flamengo
For the M360 Team, the loss of Cebolinha presents a new challenge for coach Leonardo Jardim.
Although the athlete was experiencing a period of inconsistency, his absence reduces the range of attacking options for the clash at Estádio Olímpico Atahualpa.
The focus now shifts exclusively to tactical planning against Independiente del Valle, as the club looks to secure an important advantage away from home in their pursuit of the continental title.
