La Derecha Diario De la Cruz is accused of having a chronic injury, and the player replied firmly.
The Uruguayan denied the rumors about his physical condition, and his inner circle is considering legal action following the club doctor's statements
The current situation of Nicolás De la Cruz at Flamengo has become the center of a major controversy after explosive statements from the club's medical director, José Luiz Runco, were leaked, in which he claimed that the Uruguayan suffers from a "chronic and irreparable" injury in both knees.
The statement, shared in an institutional WhatsApp group and later revealed by Globo Esporte, caused a stir both in Brazil and Argentina, where the player left a great impression during his time at River.
"We're doing everything possible so he can participate, but it's very complicated," wrote Runco, who also made it clear that De la Cruz wouldn't be fit to play professionally and that a transfer would only be considered "if a team is interested for reasons unrelated to competitive football."
De la Cruz's response and support from his inner circle
Given the magnitude of the statements, the player replied publicly from his Instagram account with a clear message: "Never let anyone tell you that you can't do something."
Meanwhile, the midfielder's inner circle went further: they denied the existence of any official diagnosis indicating a chronic and irreversible injury and emphasized that in the last five years he played nearly 50 matches per season.
Those close to the player also indicated that they are considering taking legal action for the damage to his professional image, and strongly criticized the actions of the club's medical department for "lack of rigor" in disclosing sensitive information.
Internal crisis and support in the locker room
The controversy exposed a serious internal conflict within Flamengo. Giorgian De Arrascaeta, a team leader and De la Cruz's compatriot, posted a photo with him along with a strong message: "It's about taking care of our own. It's that simple."
His wife, Vanesa Britos, also expressed her support on social media, one of her messages having a spiritual tone: "Anyone who acts wrongly will ultimately face consequences... Divine justice is something no one can escape."
In this tense atmosphere, several players on the squad chose to seek care from external doctors, avoiding the official training center, Ninho do Urubu.
His current numbers
De la Cruz was acquired by Flamengo in December 2023 for 16 million dollars. So far in 2024, he has already accumulated more than 100 days of inactivity and missed 21 matches due to various physical issues. He has only played 20 games, totaling 1,332 minutes on the field and one goal scored. Despite everything, the Uruguayan doesn't give up and reaffirms his intention to fully recover and return to compete at the highest level.
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