Two Flamengo academy products called up by the United Arab Emirates | OneFootball

Yuri César and Guilherme Bala have been naturalized and will now have a chance with the United Arab Emirates National Team

Products of Flamengo’s youth academy and long-time players in the United Arab Emirates, Yuri César and Guilherme Bala have been called up to the country’s national team. The Shabab Al-Ahli players will compete in the Gulf Cup during the next FIFA international window, against Yemen, Bahrain, and Qatar.

Yuri César and Guilherme Bala were also called up earlier this year, but only for a training period. Now, the Flamengo-developed duo may finally make their debut for the United Arab Emirates National Team in September.

YURI CÉSAR SPEAKS

“It is a huge honor to be called up once again to the United Arab Emirates National Team. I am living a very special moment in my career, I feel happy at Shabab Al-Ahli, and topping it all off by being part of the national team is an enormous honor,” said Yuri César.

“This country welcomed me from my very first day here, and representing it is a source of great pride for me. I hope to keep playing good football and make the most of this opportunity,” he added.

WHAT ARE THE TWO PLAYERS’ STATS IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES?

Yuri César has been at Shabab Al-Ahli for seven years and is one of the team’s key players. He has made 176 appearances, scored 43 goals, and provided 21 assists. Guilherme Bala, meanwhile, has been at the club since 2021 and has 138 appearances, 29 goals, and 34 assists.

TIME AT FLAMENGO

Neither player had many opportunities with Flamengo’s first team. Yuri César made only four appearances between 2019 and 2020, without scoring or assisting. Later, the midfielder was loaned to Fortaleza, where he impressed and caught the attention of Shabab Al-Ahli.

Bala, meanwhile, played only three matches for Flamengo’s senior team in 2020, with no goal contributions. After that, the forward moved to Ferroviária, in São Paulo, where he stayed for just one season before heading to the ‘Arab World.’

AUTHOR’S OPINION

— Yuri César and Guilherme Bala showed potential in Flamengo’s youth ranks. However, in recent years, the club has not been giving opportunities to players coming through the academy. Both are ‘kings’ over there in the United Arab Emirates and have everything it takes to shine for the national team —, said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist and assistant editor at Coluna do Fla, the biggest Flamengo news website in the world.

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