Football Season Guide

Serie A
Brazil
Serie A
2017
Fluminense FC
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Fluminense FC

In


Lucas (Def, Palmeiras, on loan), Jefferson Orejuela (Mid, Independiente), Júnior Sornoza (Mid, Independiente), Renato (Def, Avai, end of loan), Michael (Att, America, end of loan), Lucas Fernandes (Mid, Atletico Paranaense, end of loan),

Out


Cícero (Mid, Sao Paulo, on loan), Dorielton (Att, NMG Zhongyou), Magno Alves (Att, Ceara), Jonathan (Def, Atletico Paranaense), Wellington Paulista (Att, Chapecoense, on loan), Artur (Def, Parana), Pablo Dyego (Def, Delta, on loan), Fernando Neto (Mid, Santo Andre, on loan), Igor Julião (Def, Kansas, on loan), Elivélton (Def, Tupi), Robert (Mid, Boavista, on loan), Dudu (Mid, Nautico, on loan), Wellington Carvalho (Def, Tombense), Wellington Silva (Def, Bahia, on loan), Matheus Alves (Att, Pahang, on loan), Édson (Mid, Bahia, on loan), Felipe Amorim (Mid, America, on loan), Claudio Aquino (Mid, Independiente, end of loan), Bryan Olivera (Mid, released), Danilinho (Mid, released), Alexis Rojas (Mid, Luqueno, end of loan)

With the 2016 season culminating in a disappointing 13th place finish, Fluminense will be hoping for better things in 2017. A title challenge is still a long way off, however, especially given the limited investment which Fluminense receives nowadays. Another off-the-field issue which could impact Fluminense this year concerns the issue of which field they actually play on. Part of the reason they were so disappointing in 2016 had to do with the fact that their Maracana home was in use for the 2016 Olympic Games for most of the season and they had to play their home matches all across Brazil as a result, essentially forfeiting home advantage. It remains to be seen what happens with the Maracana, which is currently not fit for use, but if Fluminense can find a stable alternative venue then they should start to develop some familiarity with one stadium and, therefore, enjoy a home advantage again. Coaching the team this season will be Abel Braga, who takes over after a tough end to the 2016 season. Levir Culpi was supposed to lead the team until the end of the season, but performances were so bad that they had to bring in Marcão for the final few games of the season. The jury remains out on how successful Braga – who wasn’t the club’s first choice – will be, but he is at least playing an attacking style of football which the fans are enjoying and which brought some moments of success in the State Championship, the Brazilian Cup and the Copa Sudamericana. The vibe around the club is a fairly positive one then, especially with Gustavo Scarpa continuing to develop into a top class talent. The club could struggle to keep hold of him, though, if Europe’s giants come knocking in their summer transfer window and the success of Fluminense’s season could depend on whether he stays or goes.

Target


Fluminense can expect to do better than they did in 2016 and a top-half finish is likely. It might be too much to ask of them to push for a Copa Libertadores place, but Copa Sudamericana qualification should be expected.