Hulk bids farewell in tears: “I thought some stories would never end…” | OneFootball

Hulk is indeed set to leave Atlético Mineiro at the end of six seasons. The former FC Porto forward, who terminated his contract with the Brazilian club, said a tearful goodbye to Galo this Saturday.

In a video posted on his personal Instagram account, the 39-year-old Brazilian shared an emotional message with the fans. “I never prepared myself for this farewell moment. Because, deep down, I thought some stories would never end. I needed to come here and speak to you. There are things that don’t fit in a video and don’t fit in a statement. They only fit in the heart,” he began.

“There were matches when I went out there broken. There were moments when I wasn’t okay, but I just couldn’t stay away. Because wearing this shirt wasn’t just about stepping onto the pitch. It was about representing you. That carries weight, but it is also an honour,” he added.

Even so, the winger, who played for the Dragons between 2008 and 2012, admitted he gave everything he had — and even what he no longer had — for the club.

“I went for each and every one of you. I gave everything... my body, my mind and my heart. I went for that fan who stopped me in the car park and said, ‘my son believes you’re his hero.’ I went for you,” he said.

At Atlético Mineiro, he won a Brasileirão and a Copa do Brasil, both in 2021, a Super Cup in 2022, and five straight state titles between 2021 and 2025. He scored 140 goals and provided 56 assists in 311 matches. Even so, he would rather be remembered for another reason.

“If one day someone asks about me... don’t talk about the goals or the titles. Talk instead about the way I lived every match. In every play there was a man trying to be worthy,” he said.

“I’ll move on because life sometimes asks that of us. I’ll wear another shirt, but Galo will never leave me. Here I was happy and whole. Shirts can be changed, but no one can erase history,” he concluded.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.