Liverpool vs Flamengo betting tips: Club World Cup Final match preview & predictions

Who will be crowned Club World Champions 2019?

38 years on from their Intercontinental Cup Final clash in Tokyo, Liverpool and Flamengo meet again.

That day, three first half goals saw the Brazilian side take the title.

Liverpool have never won an intercontinental competition and, in fact, they’ve never beaten South American opposition in three previous attempts.

Will Jürgen Klopp’s side make history or will it be carnival time for the side from Rio de Janeiro?

Liverpool vs Flamengo: Who will win?

Liverpool are odds on favourites at 3/5 to win this match in normal time.

Thus, Flamengo are 17/4 to win in 90 minutes.

A draw, which would force extra time, is 3/1.

Either team to win in extra time is 11/2.

Either team to win on penalties is 6/1.

Over 2.5 goals is 8/13.

Both teams to score is 4/6.

Liverpool to win and both teams to score is 2/1.

The Red are 2/7 to lift the trophy; Rubro-Negro to be World Champions is 5/2.

Mohamed Salah, as always, will be a threat. The Egyptian is 10/3 to open the scoring and 11/10 to score anytime.

Sadio Mané meanwhile is also likely to start. He is 4/1 to score first and 11/8 to score anytime.

Gabriel Barbosa will be Flamengo’s biggest threat. Gabigol is 6/1 to score first and 21/10 to add to his ridiculous tally for the club.

Giorgian de Arrascaeta scored the vital equaliser on Tuesday. He is 9/1 to break the deadlock and 10/3 to score again.

Both Mané and Salah to score is 9/2.

Both Naby Keïta and Roberto Firmino to score is 14/1.

Both de Arrascaeta and Barbosa to score is also 14/1.

Both Éverton Ribeiro and Bruno Henrique to score is 40/1.

Another very late win for Liverpool; it’s becoming their trademark.

On Wednesday, they took on CONCACAF Champions League winner and Mexico’s in form team Monterrey.

With 12 minutes on the clock, it looked as though it could be a walk in the park for Jürgen Klopp’s side.

They made the break-through when Mo Salah played in Naby Keïta who finished emphatically.

However, less than two minutes later, despite a good save from Alisson, the underdogs equalised through Rogelio Funes Mori.

The subsequent 70 minutes or so was very even with neither side really creating any clear cut chances.

Until, in the 91st minute, two substitutes combined.

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s fantastic cross picked out Roberto Firmino who guided home a dramatic winner.

2-1 it finished in Doha.

That was Liverpool’s 22nd win of the season already, ten of which have been by just a single goal margin.

They’ve also now scored seven outcome changing goals in the 80th minute or later.

So, can the Reds add yet another piece of silverware?

This season, they lost the Community Shield on penalties but won the UEFA Super Cup in a shootout just ten days later.

They’re currently ten points clear of second placed Leicester City in the Premier League; that is the trophy they want more than any other.

First though, a chance to make history.

Despite the fact Liverpool have won 61 major honours in their illustrious history, more than any other English club, they have never won this competition.

Manchester United are currently the only British club to have been crowned world Champions.

Will Liverpool officially be the best team on the planet with a victory at Khalifa International Stadium?

Will Flamengo defeat Liverpool again?

Flamengo too did not get here the easy way.

They took on Saudi Arabian side Al Halil in their semi-final on Tuesday and were big favourites.

However, that certainly did not look the case in the first half.

The AFC Champions League winners dominated the opening 45 and took a deserved lead through Salem Al-Dawsari.

Nevertheless, whatever Jorge Jesus said at half time did the trick.

As, just four minutes after the interval, Giorgian De Arrascaeta finished off a well-worked team move to equalise.

Then, with about ten minutes to play, Rafinha’s pin-point cross picked out Bruno Henrique who nodded in.

The turn-around was complete.

Then, just moments later, Henrique’s cross deflected in off the unfortunate Ali Al-Bulaihi for an own goal.

3-1 it finished as Flamengo book their place in the final.

Now, can they round off a dramatic and memorable year?

Already in 2019, they won their first Brasileiro Série A title for ten years, finishing 16 points clear of runners-up Santos.

Also, they won the Campeonato Carioca, beating rivals Vasco da Gama 2-0 in the final.

But, their most amazing moment came as recently as last month.

On 23 November, they met reigning champions River Plate in the Copa Libertadores Final in Lima.

However, it was the Argentine side who led and were 1-0 in front until the 89th minute.

That’s when Gabriel Barbosa struck not once, but twice in three stoppage time minutes to bring the famous old trophy back to Rio.

Their first South American title since 1981, the same year they also beat Liverpool to claim the Intercontinental Cup.

They are most certainly one of the best teams South America has produced for years but can they topple their European opponents?

Liverpool team news vs Flamengo

It is very safe to say Liverpool are not at full strength coming into this final.

Goalkeeper Alisson could be busy, just as he was in the semi-final.

In that game, James Milner and captain Jordan Henderson had to make up a very make-shift defence.

Trent Alexander-Arnold will return to the XI but there is definately no Dejan Lovren or Joël Matip.

Virgil van Dijk missed Wednesday’s match with illness and is unlikely to be risked for this one.

So Henderson could continue in the back line alongside Joe Gomez and Andy Robertson.

Youngsters Ki-Jana Hoever and Sepp van den Berg, who both played against Aston Villa on Tuesday, have since flown out to Qatar to add some depth.

With Fabinho injured and Georginio Wijnaldum a doubt, the midfield trio is likely to stay the same.

That means Adam Lallana will be the anchor with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta further forward.

The latter has scored three goals in his last three appearances for the club.

On Thursday morning, Liverpool announced the signing of attacking midfielder Takumi Minamino from RB Salzburg.

However, he’ll have to wait until the turn of the year to make his debut.

In attack, it’ll be interesting to see what Klopp does.

Xherdan Shaqiri and Divock Origi both started the semi-final and could well get the nod again.

The other place could be taken by Sadio Mané meaning Roberto Firmino would be on the bench once again and Mo Salah would also be rested.

Even with all the absentees, will Liverpool be too strong for Flamengo?

Flamengo team news vs Liverpool

As for Jorge Jesus’ side, they’ve had an extra day to prepare and have no injury concerns.

Former Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves will be looking for his 18th clean sheet of the season.

His defence contains some familiar faces too, particularly at full-back.

Rafinha, formerly of Bayern Munich will start at right-back with former Atlético Madrid and Chelsea man Filipe Luís on the other side.

Rodrigo Caio and Pablo Marí are a very settled centre-back duo.

Amazingly, the latter became the first ever Spaniard to win the Copa Libertadores last month.

Ahead of them, Willian Arão will anchor the midfield in this 4-1-4-1 formation.

Further forward will be the same attacking quartet that started on Tuesday.

Captain Éverton Ribeiro, Gerson with goal-scorers Giorgian De Arrascaeta and Bruno Henrique.

Veteran Diego will be on the bench.

Up front, will be the phenomenon that is Gabriel Barbosa.

Gabigol scored just twice in 15 appearances for Inter and Benfica in European football.

However, at Flamengo this season, he’s netted 34 times in 42 matches including both in the Libertadores final.

Can Gabigol fire Flamengo to an historic triumph?

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The #ClubWC final is set: @LFC @Flamengo

21 December, 20:30 local time

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'Zico is a monster!' - How Flamengo made Liverpool look like 'a pub team'

With the two clubs set to meet in the Club World Cup final on Saturday, Goal looks back on their previous meeting in this fixture 38 years ago

Bob Paisley was not a man accustomed to defeat.

As manager of Liverpool during the Reds' golden age of the 1970s and 80s, the Sunderland native guided his charges to six First Division titles and three European Cup triumphs in nine glorious years at the helm.

In December 1981, however, Paisley was forced to apologise for a humbling loss.

“We were a pub team,” he admitted after watching his reigning European champions routed 3-0 by Flamengo in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo.

Thirty eight years after that momentous clash, the two famous clubs meet again for the right to be named the best side on the planet – and it is unlikely that the Reds will take their Brazilian rivals so lightly this time around.

Paisley's frank summary of his players' efforts that day in Japan was confirmed to Brazilian daily Folha by several members of the Liverpool line-up.

In contrast to the meticulous preparations carried out by Flamengo in anticipation of that game, the Merseysiders, like many English sides past and present, took a lackadaisical approach to this meeting of two continents.

“Our preparations for the game were atrocious,” captain Phil Thompson confessed. “The feeling among us was that it was a friendly game. We never imagined Flamengo would take it so seriously. We were by far the best team in Europe.”

“The journey [to Japan] was a joke,” added former striker David Johnson. “These days, to make that kind of trip you travel almost in a moving hotel.

"When we went, we were sat down for 24 hours. What can you do in those circumstances? We drank beer and played cards.”

Less than ideal preparations aside, Liverpool still went into the game as overwhelming favourites.

Paisley's men had won three of the previous five European Cups, regaining the trophy in 1981 with a 1-0 victory over Real Madrid in Paris' Parc des Princes.

With stars like England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, Scottish idol Kenny Dalglish and outstanding defenders Thompson and Alan Hansen, the Reds – playing the Intercontinental Cup for the first time after dropping out in 1977 and 1978 – fancied their chances of becoming the first English side to take the title.

Flamengo, though, were no mugs.

Coached by former Brazil midfielder Paulo Cesar Carpegiani, who was just 31 at the time, the Rio side had overcome Chile's Cobreloa to win their first Copa Libertadores and the following year would provide no less than three members of the Selecao's unforgettable 1982 World Cup squad.

Defenders Junior and Leandro were formidable customers, but there was one undisputed star of the show.

At 28, the mercurial Zico was at the peak of his powers, smashing home 11 goals during Flamengo's Libertadores run, including both strikes to decide the final. Word of his talent had even spread to Anfield.

“We only knew one thing about Flamengo: Zico,” Thompson added to Folha. “He had great technique and was brilliant at free-kicks. After the 90 minutes, I had learned even more about Zico.”

Carpegiani had also done his homework on Liverpool, obtaining video tapes of their successful European Cup campaign. Flamengo's players, however, were rather non-plussed.

“I didn’t really care about that stuff. I just wanted to train and let the opponents worry about me,” Andrade recalled to the Guardian. “And I made sure they were worried about me.”

In any case, there was scant time to prepare: having won the Libertadores on November 23, the Brazilians had less than three weeks to get ready for the game at Tokyo's National Stadium.

Two years earlier, Japan had been electrified by the exploits of Diego Maradona, the teenage sensation who had led Argentina to victory in the Youth World Cup. The success of that tournament prompted a transformation in the Intercontinental Cup.

Previously played over two legs in South America and Europe – a format that provoked no end of logistical headaches and fears over safety in front of partisan crowds – Japanese car manufacturer Toyota took over sponsorship duties in 1980 with the proviso that the game be decided over a single match in Tokyo.

The inaugural clash saw Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest travel to Asia, where they were beaten 1-0 by Nacional in front of a 62,000-capacity crowd.

The venture had proved a hit, with Japanese fans forming a lasting bond with the South American game that continues to this day.

And, the following December, despite freezing conditions in the Japanese capital, the National Stadium was once more packed to the brim to welcome the two giants of the global game.

Those present were treated to a first-half masterclass from the Rio side as a groggy Liverpool were ripped to shreds.

Right from kick-off, as noted by Marcus Vinicius Bucar Nunes in his biography, Zico: A lesson in living, the Flamengo star had noticed that Thompson had been assigned to shadow his every move. He reacted by taking up a withdrawn role, luring the centre-half out of position.

“Nunes, you stay [forward] and I will remain in the back. Thompson is too close to me,” he instructed his forward partner. “Look for the holes.” The plan would not take long to bear fruit.

Just 12 minutes were on the clock when Zico, receiving the ball in midfield, played a majestic lofted pass that caught the Reds defence flat-footed. Nunes found himself clean through and finished with class past rookie keeper Bruce Grobbelaar to open the scoring.

Zico was also at the heart of Flamengo's next strike. Grobbelaar spilled a venomous free-kick from the No. 10 and, in the resulting melee, Adilio poked home. 

With 41 minutes played, Liverpool's humiliation was complete. Nunes again found himself on the end of a marvellous Zico pass, darted through the line with razor-sharp accuracy, and made no mistake in beating the hapless Grobbelaar for Flamengo's third.

The second half saw Flamengo settle on their handsome lead, coasting to victory as Liverpool failed dismally to threaten a comeback. Long before the full-time whistle, the Japanese fans had ditched Liverpool and thrown their support behind Flamengo, fawning over the wizardly Zico as he made the Tokyo turf his own.

“We were dead, physically and mentally,” Paisley fumed to reporters after the game. “I have never seen them so dull, so lacking in ideas and aggression. I simply cannot understand it.”

Thompson, meanwhile, preferred to focus on his tormentor-in-chief: “This Zico is incredible. He is a dream of a player... He is a monster.”

In the Flamengo camp, meanwhile, amid wild celebrations among the newly crowned world champions, the idea was put to Zico that, thanks to his exploits for Flamengo, he was now the equal of Pele.

The No. 10 tried to put a stop to such talk: “There is no reason for me to be compared to Pele. He was the greatest... I am Zico, only Zico.”

For two-goal hero Nunes, however, there was no doubt who was behind this victory. “The star is Zico, I am only a scorer,” he told the media. “He makes the master moves and I just use my boot. That's it.”

Almost 40 years later, two vehicles still stand as a testament to Flamengo's triumph.

Zico, as the Intercontinental Cup Man of the Match, and Nunes, its top scorer, were rewarded for their efforts with the prize of a Toyota Celica hatch-back, although bringing the cars back to Brazil posed its own challenge.

“It only arrived in April 1983 and I left [to play for Udinese] in June. I barely drove in it,” Zico recalled to Globo in 2011. “Later, I used that car a lot, I went all over the place. But now the old warrior is tired.

“I have received a few offers, but I haven't thought [of selling it]. I will treasure it forever, as a great memento of that game.”

Nunes, meanwhile, kept his Celica for a while before selling it to a neighbour, the vehicle ultimately ending up in the hands of collector and avid Flamengo fan Mauro Amenta. It now sits in Flamengo's Museum in Rio, a symbol of the club's greatest victory.

Much has changed since that freezing afternoon in Tokyo 38 years ago. The advent of technology and the globalisation of the game means that no longer are intercontinental games a step into the unknown: teams can call upon any number of tools to scout opponents the length and breadth of the globe.

That same global movement has also seen the distance between European and South American football grow ever wider, with Brazil's elite players choosing to pursue their best years across the Atlantic.

The Selecao's 2019 Copa America squad, to take just one example, featured two Liverpool stars among their ranks but not a single Flamengo player, while just three members played their club football locally.

In 2019, then, Flamengo start Saturday's Club World Cup final as even bigger underdogs than in their last meeting with the Reds, outgunned both in terms of quality on the pitch and financial muscle off it.

But Gabigol, Filipe Luis, Rafinha and the rest of the team will hope to channel the memory of Zico once they take the pitch in Doha, as Flamengo look to inflict another historic defeat upon their illustrious and heavily fancied rivals.

Mallorca vs Sevilla Prediction & Match Preview

Mallorca vs Sevilla
Spain – LaLiga
Date: Saturday, 21 December 2019
Kick-off at 12:00 UK / 13:00 CET
Venue: Estadio de Son Moix (Palma de Mallorca).

Sevilla have been dropping points in their last two games. Even so, the odds are stacked up well against Mallorca this weekend, as the guests have been a force to reckon with on the road this term.

Mallorca vs Sevilla Head to head (h2h)

• Their last clash witnessed Mallorca post a narrow 2-1 victory.
• All of their past five meetings have featured over 2.5 goals on the charts.
• Both teams have found the back of the net together in four of their previous five encounters.
• Only one of their last ten matchups have finished as a stalemate.
• Sevilla have registered the win in half of their previous ten games. (W-5, D- 2, L-3)

Mallorca vs Sevilla Prediction

Mallorca fought back from behind in their most recent fixture on the road against Celta Vigo and managed to salvage a point after the scores read 2-2 at the last blast of the whistle. Despite trailing twice in their latter matchup, the hosts showed no signs of slowing down and bagged a late equalizer seven minutes before the end of regulation time.

Nevertheless, with just one win from their last five games, the home side are currently on the brink of falling into the relegation zone.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be making the trip to Estadio de Son Moix on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat at the hands of Villarreal at home. Be that as it may, Sevilla are still dwelling in the top three at the moment.

It is also worth mentioning that the guests have stumbled just four times this season. To make matters worse for the Mallorca faithful, Sevilla have been dubbed as the best away side in the cluster, as far as statistics go.

Presently, they are unbeaten in their last four Laliga outings on the trot. Taking into account that they have also admitted defeat just once in their last thirteen meetings with this foe away from home, Mallorca’s chances of a staging an upset are certainly looking bleak.

Furthermore, despite the convincing form that they are on, Sevilla have been finding it tough to get their hands on a clean sheet. The guests have kept just one in their past six outings, and have conceded ten goals in the process too.

On the other hand, Mallorca have found the back of the net in each of their last five games here. They have racked up nine goals to their tally from those clashes as well.

Additionally, three of their previous five h2h meetings here, have also witnessed both teams get their names on the scoresheets.

As such, it is certainly well within to reason to count on the two sides to have their scoring boots on, in this one.

Mallorca vs Sevilla Betting tips

• Sevilla to win @ 1.66 (2/3)

• Both teams to score @ 1.75 (3/4).

Japanese star Minamino signs for Liverpool

Alex Livesey, getty

Japanese international Takumi Minamino signed for Champions League holders Liverpool on Thursday for a reported fee of £7.25 million ($9.5 million) from Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg, the Premier League leaders announced.

The 24-year-old forward -- who impressed Liverpool in their two Champions League group matches this season with the Austrian side -- is believed to have signed a four-and-a-half-year contract.

"Liverpool Football Club can confirm an agreement has been reached with Red Bull Salzburg for the transfer of Takumi Minamino," the club said in a statement on their website.

Minamino -- who scored in the 4-3 defeat by Liverpool at Anfield in October -- said it fulfilled a dream.

"It has been a dream, my dream to become a Liverpool player," he told Liverpool.com.

"And I'm so excited that the moment has come true.

"To play in the Premier League was one of my targets.

"I think this is the top-class league in the world; I was thinking if my career as a footballer progressed smoothly, someday I would be able to play in the Premier League.

"But I never thought I would be able to play in this team and I'm really happy about it."

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said Minamino was a courageous player.

"He is very quick and a very brave player," said Klopp.

"He is brave with the ball but also brave without the ball."

Liverpool -- whose senior squad are preparing for Saturday's Club World Cup final in Qatar -- activated Minamino's release clause last week.

He will be free to play for them from January 1 and could be involved in the FA Cup third round tie at home to city rivals Everton on January 5.

His move brings an end to his five-year spell with Salzburg, whom he joined from Cerezo Osaka in January 2015.

In total, Minamino made 199 appearances for Salzburg, scoring 64 goals, while he has earned 22 caps for Japan and scored 11 times since making his debut in October 2015.

Liverpool x Flamengo: cara a cara entre finalistas do Mundial de Clubes

Goleiros, zagueiros, laterais, meio-campistas, atacantes e treinadores, elenco inglês e brasileiro podem ser medidos em alguns setores, mas não em todos

Falta pouco para Flamengo e Liverpool reeditarem a decisão do Mundial de Clubes, assim como em 1981, quando o Rubro-Negro se sagrou campeão no Japão ao vencer os Reds por 3 a 0. A final, que pode render ao time de Jorge Jesus o quarto título na temporada, será neste sábado, às 14h30 (de Brasília), no estádio Khalifa International, em Doha, no Catar. Diferentemente do último confronto entre eles, os ingleses largam na frente em relação à qualidade do elenco.

Então, vamos ao cara a cara de Liverpool x Flamengo:

Goleiros

No gol, a discussão não se alonga. Apesar de viver ótima fase e se mostrar um dos melhores goleiros na Libertadores da América, Diego Alves não está no mesmo nível que Alisson, titular absoluto do Liverpool há alguns anos e homem de confiança na meta da Seleção Brasileira. Eleito o melhor do mundo na posição, o ex-Internacional faz atuações sólidas em 2019.

Zagueiros

Neste setor, o debate pode ser maior, não pelo lado de Virgil Van Djik, que por estar no time da Fifa desta temporada, dispensa apresentações e venceria o cara a cara com qualquer outro zagueiro na atualidade. No caso dos cariocas, o espanhol Pablo Marí, que atua no mesmo lado do holandês, não teria condições de superá-lo hoje em dia. Já Rodrigo Caio ocupa o lado que equivale ao mais vulnerável da defesa inglesa e poderia facilmente igualar as comparações com Joe Gomez, por exemplo, que tem sido titular nas ausências de Lovren e Matip.

Laterais

Rafinha e Filipe Luís, por outro lado, fazem frente aos laterais do atual campeão da Liga dos Campeões. Os dois jogaram na Europa por mais de uma década e se acostumaram com partidas de alto nível. Apesar de experientes, um ponto desfavorável aos brasileiros é a alta idade, que começa a pesar ao longo das temporadas. Alexander-Arnold e Robertson, além de jovens, desfilam qualidade nas faixas extremas do campo e atacam como poucos atualmente. Nas laterais, a comparação é mais plausível, pela história e semelhança técnica.

Meio-campo

No meio-campo, os jogadores possuem patamares distintos. Com a chegada de Jorge Jesus, Gerson e Arão fizeram belo ano e foram peças fundamentais no esquema tático do Flamengo. Mas Wijnaldum, que ainda não está confirmado para a decisão do Mundial, e Henderson, atuam com nível elevado no continente europeu há algum tempo e, portanto, refutam qualquer tipo de análise entre as equipes neste setor.

Arrascaeta e Everton Ribeiro, pela qualidade de jogo que apresentam, já se aproximam mais dos meias do Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain e Milner. Hoje em dia, os representantes rubro-negros na posição têm mais importância para o time do que os ingleses, que alternam entre a reserva e a titularidade.

Ataque

O ataque é o setor que mais  iguala, entretanto, é o de mais difícil comparação. Isso porque o ano de Gabigol e Bruno Henrique é fantástico. Os dois, juntos, deram ao Flamengo conquistas que os flamenguistas não viam há anos e, no caso da Libertadores, há décadas. Artilheiros de todas as competições em 2019 (menos a Copa do Brasil), eles venceriam todas duplas de atacantes na América e algumas na Europa. Mas não Mané e Salah.

Junta com Roberto Firmino, a dupla dos Reds faz chover na Premier League, na Liga dos Campeões e até no Mundial. As performances regulares do senegalês e do egípcio desde que surgiram no mundo do futebol são assustadoras e merecem respeito. Apesar do ano espetacular do camisa 27 e do camisa 9 no Mais Querido, o trio do Liverpool supera qualquer time no mundo.

Treinadores

No embate de treinadores, a situação é parecida. Com o trabalho excepcional feito pelo português Jorge Jesus no time carioca,  seu patamar no mercado europeu mudou e grandes oportunidades devem surgir para  o treinador que chegou há cinco, seis meses no clube. Por outro lado, o alemão Jürgen Klopp trabalha em alto nível desde quando treinava o Borussia Dortmund, formando ótimos elencos desde 2016, e não só na Inglaterra.

Assim, a comparação entre as equipes mostra que o resultado deste Mundial não está decretado. De fato, o Liverpool tem o aspecto do favoritismo ao seu lado, mas pela qualidade técnica e tática que Jesus deu à equipe, o Flamengo tem totais chances de igualar o confronto e, como diz a torcida, "botar os ingleses na roda".

Zelarayán, nuevo Designated Player para el Crew

El atacante argentino llega a la MLS para continuar su carrera y hacerse cargo de la parte ofensiva del club. Zelayarán es un futbolista muy determinante que encaja a la perfección con el modelo de juego del entrenador.

Columbus Crew SC sigue reforzándose de cara a la próxima temporada. El proyecto de Porter no tuvo un buen rendimiento en su primer año y eso ha llevado al club a moverse con determinación durante la off season. Con la salida de un histórico como Fede Higuaín, el Crew se ha firmado a otro argentino que dirija el ataque del equipo.

Columbus ha firmado con el argentino Lucas Zelarayán que llega procedente de Tigres UANL de la Liga MX. El centrocampista ha firmado un contrato como Desginated Player y ocupará una de las international slots asignadas al equipo. Su fichaje es además el más caro en la historia del Crew ya que por él se han pagado más de $7 millones de dólares.

columbuscrewsc.com

"Estamos muy contentos de dar la bienvenida a Lucas Zelarayan al Columbus Crew SC", dijo el Presidente y General Manager del Crew SC, Tim Bezbatchenko. "Lucas es un jugador inteligente y hábil, cuya capacidad para marcar y crear goles lo convierte en el tipo de creador de juego que queremos en nuestro equipo". Ha sido un miembro clave de uno de los equipos más dominantes de la Liga MX en los últimos años, ganando consistentemente títulos nacionales e internacionales con Tigres UANL. Esperamos que Lucas sea tanto un marcador de diferencias como un líder en nuestro equipo".

Lucas Zelarayán, de 27 años, se formó en las categorías inferiores del CA Belgrano con quienes debutó en la temporada 2012 en un encuentro de Copa Argentina. Sin embargo, su debut en primera división no llegó hasta un año después ante Newell’s Old Boys y su primer gol unos días más tarde ante River Plate. Fueron tres temporadas en las que disputó 78 encuentros en los que anotó diez goles.

En 2015, Zelarayán cambió de aires firmando por el conjunto mexicano de Tigres UANL. Durante este tiempo disputó 140 encuentros en los que anotó 24 goles, siendo uno de los jugadores más determinantes del equipo en este tiempo. Ayudó al equipo en una de sus mejores etapas de la historia consiguiendo las Liga MX Apertura (2016, 2017) y Clausura 2019, la Campeón de Campeones (2016, 2017, 2018) y la Campeones Cup 2018 ante Toronto FC.

"Lucas era un jugador muy solicitado en el mercado mundial de fichajes y su fichaje supone la mayor comisión de traspaso de la historia del Club. Queremos agradecer a las familias Haslam y Edwards por su inversión y compromiso continuo para hacer del Crew un equipo que aspira a competir por los campeonatos. Con su apoyo, pudimos fichar a un jugador del calibre de Lucas. Este es un momento histórico para el club”, apuntó Bezbatchenko.