1995: Romário says Vasco tried to block his Flamengo return | OneFootball

Romário says a new sportv and Globoplay series reveals Vasco tried to derail his 1995 move to Flamengo, while Barcelona also pushed to keep him. According to Globo.com, the three-part film premieres on Sunday at 22:00.

Titled 1995 - No tempo dos bad boys, episodes air Sunday 22:00, Monday 22:00 and Tuesday 20:00. It follows Flamengo’s centenary title pursuit amid Gávea’s egos and a year coloured by folklore and tragedy.

A central strand is January 1995 talks. Romário recalls a call from friend Eurico Miranda, then Vasco vice-president, trying to dissuade him. He says a return to Vasco would have pleased him, but Flamengo negotiations were advanced. He was unhappy staying in Spain after winning the World Cup.

Former Flamengo president Kleber Leite says Vasco chiefs Antônio Soares Calçada and Eurico lobbied Barcelona’s president and Juan Gaspar to block the move. He adds they painted him as an adventurer without funds, a line he says Gaspar repeated in their first meeting.

On arrival, a question seeded by Flamengo communications vice Maurício Menezes led Romário to needle Vasco fans, telling them to bring handkerchiefs to the Maracanã. Flamengo then beat Vasco 1-0 in the Carioca, he scored and celebrated with shushing and crying gestures after an earlier rebuke from Eurico.

The series also covers private turmoil. Romário says he split from Mônica Santoro on 14 January 1995, the day he landed. Lawyer Michel Assef recalls a bruising dispute and a tense court meeting before the Taça Guanabara final, which Flamengo won 3-2 with his hat-trick.

Source: Globo.com