Flamengo travels to meet Brazilian president Lula

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- This year's Brazilian soccer championship winners Flamengo traveled to Brazil's capital city to meet the Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Monday.

Despite Lula's professed devotion to Corinthians, the president welcomed the team, congratulated them on the victory and received a jersey and replica trophy.

Flamengo president Marcio Braga had hoped to take advantage of the trip to talk with Adriano in private. However, the MVP striker of the Brazilian championship took a private jet and returned to Rio de Janeiro immediately after the ceremony with President Lula.

Flamengo's star fullback Ronaldo Angelim announced on Monday that he will stay with the team in 2010. He also believes that Adriano will play for Flamengo in 2010.

"He told me that he was going to stay and asked me what I planned on doing. I told him I wanted to stay too. Adriano has everything he needs to be happy at Flamengo. There is no reason for him to leave," said Ronaldo.