Remember him? Flamengo defender sidelined last year yet to play in 2026 | OneFootball

Signed by São Bernardo, Pablo has yet to make his debut for the new club

Throughout 2025, center back Pablo drew attention. Sidelined by Flamengo coach Filipe Luís, the defender kept training on an alternative schedule at Ninho do Urubu. The player posted videos with motivational and reflective messages while waiting for his contract to expire at the end of last year. A free agent in 2026, he signed with São Bernardo, but has still not even made his debut.

According to the platform ‘O Gol,’ Pablo was included in the squad for only three matches: one in January, in the Campeonato Paulista, and two in April, in the Copa Sul-Sudeste. However, on all three occasions, the player remained on the bench. In the Série B of the Brazilian Championship, São Bernardo’s priority this season, the former Flamengo player was not even named in the matchday squad.

SO HOW DID PABLO DO AT FLAMENGO, AFTER ALL?

The center back was signed by Flamengo in 2022 for 2.5 million euros (R$ 14 million). In his first year, Pablo earned some playing time under Dorival Júnior and made 31 appearances. In 2023, he played 15 matches wearing the Sacred Shirt. In 2024, he was loaned to Botafogo, where the center back made only one appearance. Finally, he returned to Mengão in 2025, with four appearances for the youth-heavy side that played at the start of the Campeonato Carioca.

SO, WHAT DID PABLO SAY ABOUT LEAVING FLAMENGO?

– There’s no way I could hold a grudge. Why would I hold a grudge? I’m a fulfilled man, a guy who has achieved everything I ever dreamed of in my life. Even with the situation at Flamengo in these last few months. In 2024, at Botafogo, I had a serious injury and couldn’t play. And this year I was made to train separately from the squad –, Pablo said.

– But it happened, it’s in the past, I gave it new meaning. And that’s it, I’m going to bounce back. I’ll do whatever it takes. Whatever it takes. You have no idea what I’m willing to give up to make that happen again –, the center back added in an interview with GE at the start of this year.

At 34, Pablo hopes to make his debut next Tuesday (12), when São Bernardo visit Londrina in Série B of the Brazilian Championship. Meanwhile, the defender’s former team, Flamengo, play on Sunday (10) against Grêmio in Série A.

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