Erazo reveals what was missing at Flamengo: “It’d be different”

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Coluna do Fla

·15 September 2026

Erazo reveals what was missing at Flamengo: “It’d be different”

What did Erazo say in an interview with Coluna do Fla?

By: Rodrigo Lima

Ecuadorian Frickson Erazo played for Flamengo in the 2014 season. During a stop in Quito, Coluna do Fla spoke with the former center back. In one part of the interview, the former player said that the lack of fellow countrymen in the squad kept him from adapting well at Rubro-Negro.

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I am absolutely convinced that if the environment had been different when I arrived, the story would have been different. Now, for example, there are some fellow countrymen there in Flamengo’s team, and I’m very happy about that, he said, before concluding:

Nowadays, players arrive, score goals, provide assists, and the fans embrace them... these are very important things. I don’t hold any resentment at all. Flamengo was my best school. If I had the chance to go back in time, I would do it all over again. My time at Flamengo made me the person I am today, Erazo concluded.

HOW WAS ERAZO’S SPELL AT FLAMENGO?

Erazo arrived at Flamengo as a major signing, considering he was one of the best center backs in Ecuador. At the time, the former defender was nicknamed ‘El Elegante.’ However, despite all the spotlight, the former center back played only seven matches and won the Carioca title.

RETURN TO MARACANÃ WITH ECUADOR

Amid a turbulent period at Flamengo, Erazo had a World Cup to play with Ecuador. In that context, the former center back said he was surprised by the reception he received at the Maracanã when he met the rubro-negro fans again.

I had already left Flamengo and was at Grêmio. During that period, the World Cup came around, and our last match was against France at the Maracanã. I arrived feeling ashamed, because I felt I had not given my best to Flamengo. I thought I would be booed, but it was completely different. People shouted my name, and it was a very good experience, he emphasized.

THE PRESSURE OF PLAYING FOR FLAMENGO

Still in the interview with Coluna do Fla, Erazo recalled his spells at Vasco, Grêmio, and Atlético-MG in Brazilian football. However, in the former center back’s view, no pressure compares to what he went through wearing the Sacred Jersey.

This is nothing new. Flamengo is a team that faces a lot of pressure, and that only happens because of the greatness and history the club has. Any player who goes there already knows the hierarchy that exists in that place. It is a club with a lot of pressure, something different that makes the fans so passionate about it.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO’S SITUATION IN THE LIBERTADORES?

While Erazo looks back on important moments in his career, Flamengo’s squad holds the advantage in the tie against Independiente del Valle (ECU) in the Libertadores quarterfinals. That is because, on Thursday (10), Mengo faced the rival at the altitude of Quito, Ecuador, and secured a 2-0 win.

Given that situation, Flamengo has a good advantage for the second leg. This Thursday (17), Rubro-Negro can even lose by one goal at the Maracanã and still advance to the Libertadores semifinals.

WHEN IS THE FLAMENGO VS. DEL VALLE MATCH IN THE LIBERTADORES?

The match between Flamengo and Del Valle takes place at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) this Thursday (17), at the Maracanã. As usual, Coluna do Fla TV will cover every detail of the match on YouTube, as well as on its website and social media. Finally, ESPN (pay TV) and Disney+ (streaming) will broadcast the clash.

WATCH COLUNA DO FLA’S FULL INTERVIEW WITH ERAZO

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