Brazil Squad Call-Ups Hurt Flamengo, Bernardo Ramos Warns
Pedro and Samuel Lino were called up by Carlo Ancelotti for international friendlies during a decisive phase of the season.
The call-ups of Pedro and Samuel Lino to the Brazil national team have sparked renewed criticism of the domestic soccer calendar. Analyst Bernardo Ramos breaks down Flamengo's key absences and their direct impact on both the Brasileirão and Copa Libertadores title races.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has once again left Flamengo short-handed at a crucial point in the season. Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti announced the call-ups of striker Pedro and winger Samuel Lino for three upcoming friendlies, including two fixtures against Australia and one against India. The squad announcement triggered widespread frustration over fixture scheduling and the competitive disadvantages imposed on the Rubro-Negro roster.
In the video above, Bernardo Ramos analyzes the national team coaching staff's decision and details how the selection disrupts the club's tactical structure. In addition to the Brazilian duo, the squad is already coping with the losses of Arrascaeta and Varela, who were called up to represent Uruguay during the same FIFA international window.
Domestic schedule and fixture congestion
In Bernardo's view, the situation exposes the flaws of the domestic calendar during FIFA dates. Brazilian league matches are routinely scheduled immediately following international commitments. As a result, the demanding travel logistics from Asia make it virtually impossible for the selected players to feature in Flamengo's next domestic fixture.
Losing two regular starters undoubtedly hurts the squad's performance during a critical stretch of competing in both the Campeonato Brasileiro and the Copa Libertadores. Bernardo emphasizes that top European clubs—such as Real Madrid, Manchester City, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal—enjoy longer rest windows before domestic league action resumes, a luxury Brazilian teams are denied.
Samuel Lino's tactical role and Pedro's central presence
From a tactical standpoint, Bernardo notes that Samuel Lino is in peak form, drifting inward from the left wing to create direct passing combinations with Arrascaeta and Pedro. This dynamic is reinforced by full-back Ayrton Lucas, whose overlapping runs stretch the pitch and open the half-space for Lino—a dynamic distinct from what Alex Sandro provides on that flank.
Pedro's absence also creates significant concerns in attack. Despite occasional finishing slumps, the center-forward remains the focal point of Flamengo's offensive structure. The immediate backup on the roster is 19-year-old Joaquín Freitas, a recent arrival. Bernardo argues that placing decisive scoring responsibilities on a teenager still adapting to the club drastically increases the team's difficulty.
Physical toll and injury history
Player welfare is another central pillar of the criticism. Bernardo recalled the 2024 incident in which Pedro suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) while training with the national team in Curitiba ahead of a qualifier against Ecuador, an injury that sidelined the striker for months.
Looking at direct title rivals, Palmeiras lost no players to the Brazilian squad, having only to manage the likely call-ups of Piquerez for Uruguay and Gustavo Gómez for Paraguay. While Corinthians had three players selected, Bernardo points out that the São Paulo club is not currently in direct contention for the trophies Flamengo is pursuing this season.