Joaquín Freitas relishes Flamengo move and explains River Plate exit | OneFootball

I will always look up to Pedro as a center forward because he is a player of enormous quality, with a great career. I like to be that kind of striker who drops deeper to play, with a lot of mobility. It’s like being one more midfielder who ends up as a striker. So I always try to learn, and I’ll try to learn as much as possible from him (Pedro), just as I learned a lot at River from Driussi, who is also a great striker, and from Colidio, who is now at Vasco. They are players who shared a lot, and you learn a lot by watching them. I tried to model myself on them so that later I could make the most of everything I learned,” he concluded.

I faced Flamengo in the friendly. After that, I never imagined I would end up playing for the rival I faced. But that’s football, things happen very fast. When I came here and the opportunity arrived, I made the decision I thought was the right one. Of course, the quality of the players and the human quality here stand out. When I faced them, I didn’t know they were this good. I’m very grateful and very happy about it.”

As I said, we were playing in the Copa Sudamericana with River. Before coming here, unfortunately we were eliminated. But cup nights are always different, with another setting, another atmosphere that we really enjoy. Now we’re going to play in the Libertadores, which is a more important tournament. The expectation is to win, as the club demands, as Flamengo’s standards demand. We’re going to fight for that together.”

In my development, I always played as a striker, an attacking midfielder, a forward who drops deeper to play. I’ve always liked being in contact with the ball. As the years went by, under “Chacho” (nickname of Eduardo Coudet, former River Plate coach), I played more as a reference point up front, which is what I asked him for. Later, I started playing as a right-sided midfielder, and I think he used me there more because of my speed and one-on-one ability. As I said, I have the stamina to run and win the ball back for the team. I think those characteristics are what led me to play as a midfielder recently at River. But my position is No. 9 or attacking midfielder, dropping a little deeper to play. That’s how I played for almost my whole life.”

It’s kind of hard for me to tell you that (laughs), it would be better to ask someone from scouting. But intensity, power and speed are characteristics that define me. I always try to play forward and I never give up on any ball. I believe those are my main characteristics and why I’m here at Flamengo. As I say, I like playing football. The other day I watched the match against Mirassol, and the team plays really beautiful football, and that motivates me too.”

I was with Anthony before going in and we couldn’t believe it. We entered the stadium and it really made an impression on us. Luckily, the fans welcomed us very well, and when we stepped onto the pitch we were able to speak with them. I’m very eager to play there.”

Since I arrived at the club, he got in touch with me and made himself available. I’m grateful to him and to the Uruguayans at the club. Everyone welcomed us well. I started playing at a third-division club in Argentina, where I developed throughout my youth. Then I went to River in 2024, and everything was new and happened fast. We came from the bottom, and being able to build the best possible career, as is happening with Rossi, is very positive. We hope it will be the same in my case.”

Personally, we never talked about the option of playing in Europe. Sometimes people talk about it on social media, but those are rumors. No formal offer ever reached me, only Flamengo’s. But this club is at a European level. The facilities, the standards, the sporting project. It’s more or less similar. I’m happy to be here.”

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