Flamengo makes official squad to seek the Libertadores Sub-20 tri without striker Douglas Telles

This Thursday, Flamengo made official the list of 20 players registered for the Copa Libertadores Sub-20 dispute, which will take place in Quito, at Equador. The technical committee chose to include the new recruits to strengthen the squad that is seeking a third consecutive title in the South American competition. The tournament is scheduled to take place between March 7th and 22nd, bringing together the continent’s main football prospects.

The team’s preparation focuses on adapting to the climatic and geographical conditions of the headquarters, since the altitude of Quito is a determining factor for physical performance. Entre the confirmed names include athletes who have already played for the professional team during the initial rounds of this year’s Campeonato Carioca. The club’s strategy is to maintain hegemony in the category after the recent achievements that consolidated the red and black base as a reference in the América of the Sul.

🚨 FIELD BASE! ⚠️

Flamengo released the list of related items for Libertadores Sub-20. Rubro-Negro will meet their group stage opponents next Tuesday (10).

The competition will be played between March 7th and 22nd, at Quito, at Equador, bringing together major clubs from…pic.twitter.com/iX0exgUI0P

— GALINHO (@datamengo)February 5, 2026

Absence of Douglas Telles and medical precautions at altitude

The main news of the call-up is the absence of striker Douglas Telles, considered one of the great promises of Ninho of Urubu. The 18-year-old player, who has already scored twice for the professional team, was cut after undergoing rigorous clinical examinations carried out by the medical department. The tests showed that the athlete has sickle cell traits, a genetic condition that requires specific care in environments with low oxygenation.

The club’s medical authorities decided to preserve the young man’s physical integrity, avoiding his exposure to 2,850 meters above sea level in the Ecuadorian capital. Essa clinical condition does not prevent practicing sport under normal conditions, but it can generate severe complications when the body is subjected to extreme effort at high altitudes. The case is similar to that faced by midfielder Allan, from the professional squad, highlighting the rigor of the health protocol established by the club.

• The condition can cause episodes of severe dehydration in rarefied environments.
• There is a risk of hyperthermia and imbalances in blood acidity levels.
• Peripheral blood oxygenation can be compromised during intense matches.
• Flamengo prioritized long-term athlete safety over competition.

New reinforcements gain space on the official list for the tournament

To address needs and raise the technical level of the group, Flamengo signed up three newly arrived players who are still looking for affirmation with the red and black shirt. Striker Josmar, signed alongside Avaí, appears as one of the offensive options to replace Telles, bringing speed to the sector. Além of him, the left-back Gustavo Ramirez, ex-Mirassol, was selected to give more depth to the squad in the defensive phase and in support of the attack.

The defense sector also received an important increase with the presence of Spanish-Brazilian Muñoz, who was in Portuguesa from São Paulo before transferring to Rio from Janeiro. Esses athletes were monitored by the club’s scouting sector for months and arrive with the responsibility of maintaining the high level of the youth categories. The integration of these new names occurred quickly to ensure the necessary rapport before the trip to Equador.

Players with professional experience reinforce the under-20 team

The base of the starting team will feature players who are already used to the pressure environment, having played under the command of the main team recently. Goalkeeper Leo Nannetti and defender João Victor are defensive pillars that bring security to the rest of the squad registered in the competition. In midfield, the presence of midfielder Pablo Lúcio and midfielder Guilherme guarantees quality in the ball transition and creativity in setting up offensive plays.

Right-back Daniel Salles also makes up the group, being a fundamental piece for the tactical scheme that favors lateral climbs. Embora the group is strong, the absence of captain Iago is felt, as the defender has exceeded the age limit allowed by Conmebol to compete in the tournament. Sem the former leader on the field, new protagonists must take on the armband and the responsibility of guiding their teammates during decisive matches on foreign soil.

Draw procedure and opponents in the group stage

The draw that will define the selection of teams is scheduled for next Tuesday, at the headquarters of Conmebol, located in the city of Luque, in Paraguai. As the current holder of the trophy, Flamengo enters as seed in pot 1, avoiding direct clashes against Palmeiras and Belgrano in the first phase. Esta privileged position is the result of consistent performance in previous editions, where the club showed technical and tactical superiority.

In addition to the Brazilians and Argentines, the competition has traditional representatives such as LDU and Universidad Católica, both from Equador, who will play with the support of the local fans. Nacional of Uruguai and Sporting Cristal of Peru are also opponents who tend to give trouble in the training categories. The diversity of playing styles present in the tournament requires the red and black technical committee to study each possible rival in detail to devise the best strategies.

• National of Uruguai and Sporting Cristal of Peru represent traditional forces.
• Independent Medellín and Olímpia bring the competitiveness of Colômbia and Paraguai.
• Santiago Wanderers and Bolívar complete the list of classified clubs.
• Estudiantes de Mérida is also part of the group of teams that will compete for the cup.

Logistics and adaptation to the Quito climate for athletes

The Flamengo board plans detailed logistics to minimize the effects of altitude on players’ performance throughout the two weeks of competition. Viagens advances and acclimatization periods are being discussed between the football department and the Rio club’s physical trainers. The objective is for the athletes’ body to adapt to the lower atmospheric pressure, avoiding early fatigue that is common in cities located in the Cordilheira of the Andes.

The training carried out at Ninho of Urubu already incorporates high-intensity exercises to increase the cardiovascular capacity of the young people called up for the trip. Nutritional monitoring will also be intensified, focusing on diets that help with quick recovery between games, which have short breaks. Todo planning aims to ensure that the team reaches the knockout stage with the same physical explosion demonstrated in national competitions played at sea level.

Board expectations for maintaining hegemony at the base

Continuous investment in the youth categories is seen by the management of Flamengo as the main path to the institution’s sporting and financial success. Conquistar the third championship of the Libertadores Sub-20 would further increase the club’s international prestige, facilitating the appreciation of assets and the export of talent. The directors believe that, even with the unexpected absence of Douglas Telles, the group has qualified spare parts to maintain favoritism.

The visibility generated by the tournament attracts scouts from major European clubs, which increases the motivation of registered players to perform their best football. Success in the Libertadores Sub-20 also serves as an entrance exam for athletes who aim for a permanent place in the squad led by the professional team. Integration between categories is one of the pillars of the red and black sports project, which seeks to reap the fruits of this systematic work in the next season.

Impact of Iago’s absence and leadership in the locker room

Iago’s departure from the under-20 group marks the end of a winning cycle for the defender, who is now fully dedicated to his senior team commitments. Sua leadership was one of the differences in previous titles, serving as a spokesperson for the technical committee within the four lines during moments of pressure. The absence of such an influential captain forces other veteran players in the category to take on the role of guides for the newly arrived reinforcements.

The coach of the under-20 team has been working on the psychological aspect of the athletes so that the lack of Iago does not result in a loss of defensive organization or morale. Espera It is expected that players like João Victor and Guilherme will fill this leadership vacuum, using the experience accumulated in continental finals to calm the younger players. The internal environment at Flamengo is one of mutual trust, with total focus on overcoming the difficulties imposed by the calendar and geography.

Technical details about sickle cell traits in sport

Sports medicine has evolved considerably in the diagnosis of genetic conditions that can influence the performance and safety of football players. Sickle cell traits occur when a person inherits the abnormal hemoglobin gene from just one parent, which generally does not cause symptoms in everyday conditions. However, elite sport requires the body to function at its maximum limit, which can transform a latent characteristic into an acute risk.

At high altitudes, oxygen pressure is lower, which can cause red blood cells to change shape, making circulation in capillaries difficult. Essa temporary obstruction is what generates the risks mentioned by the doctors of Flamengo when evaluating the case of Douglas Telles for the trip to Equador. The decision to keep him at Rio from Janeiro demonstrates the club’s ethical and responsible stance towards the health of its employees and sporting assets.