“I’m not comfortable playing Flamengo”, says Gabigol before clash

In partnership with

Coluna do Fla

·4 April 2026

“I’m not comfortable playing Flamengo”, says Gabigol before clash

Gabigol will face Flamengo again this Sunday (05)

Flamengo continues its preparations to face Santos this Sunday (05), in a match valid for the tenth round of the Brasileirão. Besides the three points at stake, the match will mark the reunion of Gabigol, Mengão, and the Maracanã. It’s no surprise, then, that the former No. 99 revealed he will not feel comfortable during the clash.

To be honest, I don’t feel comfortable playing against Flamengo. Especially at the Maracanã. Everyone knows how much I love Flamengo, the fans, and Rio de Janeiro. It’s very complicated for me. I believe that when the game starts, you want to win, give your best, and score goals. But really, for me it is always very difficult to face Flamengo. Because of everything I went through there, and everything was very sincere. But when the ball starts rolling, I want to win, and I’m sure they do too. If Flamengo’s fans insult me, I know that’s part of the game. But when it’s over, things go back to normal, without that pressure and the intensity of the match, everything ends. I can’t lie. I love Flamengo, Flamengo’s fans, I love Santos, it’s the team of my heart. These are things that happen in football, and life goes on,” Gabigol said in an interview with ‘GE’.

Has Gabigol already faced Flamengo since leaving?

Since leaving Flamengo, Gabigol has faced his former club twice, both times while playing for Cruzeiro in 2025. In the first match, the striker scored the goal that gave the Minas Gerais side a 2-1 victory. In the second meeting, the score ended 1-1.

OneFootball Videos

Gabigol was also a doubt for the match against Flamengo. That’s because the striker was recovering from a calf injury. However, the player returned to training with the Santos squad in recent days and should therefore be available for coach Cuca.

What was Gabigol’s spell at Flamengo like?

Flamengo announced Gabigol’s arrival in January 2019, after agreeing to a loan deal with Inter Milan (ITA). The striker had a historic year, deciding the Libertadores title and playing a key role in winning the Brasileirão. Because of that, in 2020, the Most Beloved signed the player permanently, paying R$ 79 million to the Italian club.

Wearing the Sacred Mantle for six years, Gabigol put up fantastic numbers for Flamengo. He played 306 matches, scoring 161 goals and providing 43 assists. In addition, the red-and-black idol won: two Libertadores titles, two Copas do Brasil, two Brasileirão titles, two Supercopas do Brasil, one Recopa Sudamericana, and four Carioca championships.

When do Flamengo and Santos face each other?

Therefore, the match between Flamengo and Santos is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (Brasília time) this Sunday (05), at the Maracanã, for the tenth round of the Brasileirão. As usual, Coluna do Fla will cover all the details of the match on YouTube, as well as on its website and social media.

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