Flamengo player tells Zico how he nearly left the club | OneFootball

Flamengo counts on key starter for the match against Fluminense this Wednesday (19)

Center-back Léo Pereira is an undisputed starter for Flamengo under Filipe Luís. However, in the recent past, fans have heavily criticized the defender, who told Zico how he was close to leaving the club, but realized that the real challenge was to stay.

— There were other offers and we considered leaving, but the biggest challenge was here, to show the fans, the club, and myself that I was capable of being here and deserved it. Marcos Braz said that as long as I wasn't playing, I wouldn't leave — said the defender in a video for Flamengo TV.

But what changed for Léo Pereira to stay at Flamengo?

— I said I wanted my opportunity and would prepare for it. That's when Dorival Júnior arrived. He called me and Gustavo Henrique, had an honest conversation with us, saying that we had arrived in 2020 and wanted to know what was going on — added Léo Pereira.

According to the defender, Dorival said in the conversation that Léo Pereira and Gustavo Henrique were among the best center-backs of 2019. So, the coach asked if the pair had forgotten how to play football. Thus, the players asked for more playing time on the field.

— He split us into two teams, one for the Brasileirão and one for the Cups. I played two matches in the Brasileiro, we did well, and I went to his son asking to play in the Cup team. The match against Tolima (COL) was the turning point for me at Flamengo — highlighted Léo Pereira.

What happened in Flamengo vs Tolima?

For Léo Pereira, his best match wearing the Sacred Mantle was the 1-0 victory over Tolima, in the round of 16 of the Libertadores in 2022. No one got past the defender, who was crucial for Flamengo to keep a clean sheet in Colombia.

What is Léo Pereira’s current moment?

The 29-year-old defender is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career. The contract between Léo Pereira and Flamengo runs until the end of 2027, as his last renewal took place in 2023, still under the club’s previous management.

What is the next match for the Rubro-Negro?

With Léo Pereira available, though at risk of suspension, Flamengo faces Fluminense this Wednesday (19). The match kicks off at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), at Maracanã, for the 34th round of the Brasileirão.

As tradition dictates, Coluna do Fla will bring all the details about the match through YouTube, the website, and social media. However, Premiere (pay-per-view) will broadcast the Flamengo vs Fluminense match.

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