🔥'Villain' in 2021, A. Pereira eyes redemption in the final | OneFootball

Andreas Pereira reaches the 2025 Libertadores final living a movie-like storyline.

Four years after the mistake that marked his time at Flamengo, the midfielder faces the Rubro-Negro again, now wearing Palmeiras' jersey, with the rare chance to navigate between two extremes: redemption or new failure.

This Saturday's decision (29), in Lima, which places two giants of the country in the contest to become the first Brazilian four-time continental champion, confronts the player with his own past.

In 2021, Andreas was having a great campaign with Flamengo until the most memorable – and most painful – moment of his journey: the wrong pass, in overtime, that resulted in Palmeiras' title-winning goal, scored by Deyverson.

The mistake became a scar and is still repeated in debates, provocations, and analyses.

He himself admits that the episode deeply shook his confidence at the time.

After his stint at Fla, he returned to England and regained prominence with Fulham, until 2025 brought him back to Brazil.

Palmeiras invested 10 million euros in the midfielder and gave him a leading role.

With Abel Ferreira, Andreas became an important piece of the Alviverde, being decisive, even, in the historic comeback against LDU – from 0 to 3 to a vibrant 4 to 0 at Allianz Parque, which put the club back in the final and reignited the narrative of confronting the past.

In interviews after his arrival at Palmeiras, the midfielder made a point of emphasizing that the 2021 mistake “is in the past.”

He even revealed that he refused offers from Premier League and Champions League clubs to defend Palmeiras, motivated by the sports project and the confidence conveyed by Abel.

The Portuguese coach has always been an admirer of his football and became a fundamental part of this emotional and technical reconstruction.

“He knows how to demand, but makes everyone comfortable. He motivates in a special way,” said Andreas, explaining his quick adaptation to the Alviverde squad.

The reunion with the Rubro-Negro fans, however, has already happened – and it wasn't easy.

In the Brazilian Championship, where Fla and Palmeiras also compete for the title, Andreas faced boos and provocations, and even saw Palmeiras lose 3 x 2 in a heated game, full of goals and controversies.

That duel served as an emotional preview of what awaits him this Saturday.

Now, the Libertadores places Andreas Pereira, once again, within a narrative that only football can create.

On one side, his club where he once pledged love, but where he experienced his greatest pain.

On the other, the one that embraced him and will allow him to play another Libertadores final.

Between redemption and failure, he enters the field carrying a past that still mobilizes fans and reignites debates, but also with the chance to write a new ending.

If he starts, as is the trend, Andreas will face the most symbolic confrontation of his career.

It's not just Flamengo vs. Palmeiras. It's Andreas vs. 2021.

So, who will smile at the end this time?

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

📸 MAURO PIMENTEL,ERNESTO BENAVIDES - AFP or licensors