Ex-Corinthians star lifts first European trophy after injury setbacks | OneFootball

Raul Gustavo, once a promising prospect at Corinthians, has wrapped up his inaugural European campaign on a strong note with Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. The 26-year-old centre-back, who previously had a stint in Croatia, saw his move to Hungary pay off with a national league title and valuable continental experience.

Reflecting on the season, Raul spoke of “a great sense of pride” at securing a trophy in his very first year abroad. “Despite finishing as runners-up in the Hungarian Cup, our main goal was always to win the league, and fortunately, we were able to give that gift to our supporters,” he said, expressing satisfaction at his adaptation to a new footballing environment.

Raul’s journey this year was not without its challenges. Early in the campaign, he was sidelined by a back injury, disrupting his introduction to life at Ferencvaros. Later, an appendix operation kept him away from first-team action for over a month late in the season. Nonetheless, Raul’s determination saw him return to the starting lineup with regularity, clocking 22 appearances—18 as a starter—across a busy schedule that included domestic and European competition.

For Raul, playing in both the Champions League and Europa League marked a significant career milestone. “Individually, I consider my season very positive. I managed a good run of games as a starter, made my debut in European competitions—something every player dreams of—and to top it off, we became national champions,” he said, underscoring what this step meant after his Corinthians days.

Raul, who left Corinthians for around R$1 million, described this phase as “mission accomplished” for his opening campaign in Hungary and is already setting his sights higher for the next year. “I hope that in the coming season, I can achieve even bigger goals and help my team and teammates even more,” he concluded.

The defender’s progress serves as a notable development for Corinthians’ faithful, as their former youth product finds success on a larger stage—a reminder of the value their academy continues to produce.

Source: Globo