Jorginho surprises as he reveals his mum shares nickname with Flamengo idol | OneFootball

Maria Tereza Freitas, Jorginho’s mother, used to be called “Zico” in the past

Jorginho will have the chance to repeat Zico’s feat and win a Libertadores for Flamengo next Saturday (29), against Palmeiras. Few people know, however, that the midfielder actually has a “Zico” at home. Maria Tereza Freitas, the mother of the red-and-black number 21, was an athlete and had the same nickname as Arthur Antunes Coimbra.

See this photo on Instagram A post shared by CONMEBOL Libertadores (@libertadoresbr)

— My mother always played football. In fact, her nickname from my grandfather was Zico. My grandfather used to ask her: “Where are you playing today, Zico?” So, she always played and she’s passionate about football. After I was born, as I grew up, I started going with her to all the games she played on weekends, always by her side, with my little ball under my arm. Sometimes the bus was full and she’d say: “Hey, the bus is packed.” I’d say: “No, I’ll stand here next to you.” So she’d sit and I’d be standing right next to her, on her lap — said Jorginho, to the Libertadores page.

— I always followed in her footsteps, watched her play a lot and learned a lot just by watching her, seeing how she behaved on the field, and she also had that communication trait, she talked a lot. So, I believe that’s something I got from her as well. Of course, there’s the technical side, we’d go to the beach, she’d keep tossing the ball for me to control and I learned a lot. For me, she’s always been a great inspiration — he added.

JORGINHO’S ‘CRITICAL’ MOM?

Since Jorginho’s mother knows her football, the Flamengo midfielder “suffers” from his mom’s critiques. In fact, the player revealed that he even debates with Maria Tereza about his performances in the sacred red-and-black jersey.

— She was a number 10, man. Really a number 10, took free kicks and scored lots of goals. So, obviously… On a much smaller scale (than Zico), but my grandfather ended up giving her that nickname and then it faded over time, of course, but she told me about it a while ago. There was a game she came to watch here, I can’t remember which one. And we won well, I played a good game and all. Then I leave the game, meet her, we start talking and I said: “Hey, that was a good game, right?” — began Jorginho.

— The first thing she said: “That ball over there and all…” I said: “Come on, we won, isn’t that good enough?” She said: “Sorry.” But she gives a lot of comments, a lot of advice that sometimes we end up discussing, in a good way, about why this, why that, how it went, but she has her own understanding. (Critiques) a lot! Really a lot! Just like any fan. And she’s there, has her opinions just like everyone else, but I listen, some things I take in, which I believe, some things I don’t agree with and she keeps her opinion and that’s fine — he concluded.

DON’T GIVE YOUR MOM REASONS TO CRITICIZE, HEY JORGINHO?

Jorginho will have the chance to make his mother and the Red-and-Black Nation proud this Saturday (29), against Palmeiras, in the final of the Copa Libertadores da América. At the Estádio Monumental U, in Lima, Peru, the Brazilians will try for their fourth championship. The match kicks off at 6pm (Brasília time).

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