Ex-Flamengo chief Landim hits out at Gabigol, says he ‘bullied’ coaches | OneFootball

Rodolfo Landim revealed details about the behind-the-scenes relationship between Gabigol and Flamengo’s management

Rodolfo Landim, president of Flamengo between 2019 and 2024 and one of those responsible for signing Gabigol, commented on the striker’s departure during an appearance on the ‘Charla Podcast’ this Thursday (02). The former president revealed details about the behind-the-scenes relationship between the player and the club’s management.

Gabigol left Gávea at the end of 2023 after not renewing his contract, even though he was an idol and one of the most successful players in the recent history of Flamengo. According to Landim, the striker was not in good form and ended up putting coaches under pressure, who often started him even when he was not the best option.

— Gabigol’s name is etched in the history of Flamengo. In the titles we won, he played a huge role. I feel sorry, because I think that if he had continued performing the way he had been, he had everything it took to be the player, perhaps the main symbol, let’s put it that way, of this winning period for Flamengo -, he said, before continuing.

— There are factors that are not just football-related; I imagine there were other off-the-field aspects that ended up influencing this as well. But what I am obliged to analyze is this: what result was he giving to Flamengo? So, because of the results he had been delivering to Flamengo over the last two years, it ended up becoming a problem to play a player who, in truth, often became a problem himself -, he said.

WHEN DID GABIGOL ANNOUNCE HE WAS LEAVING FLAMENGO?

After winning the 2024 Copa do Brasil, Gabigol announced that he would leave Flamengo at the end of that year. At the time, the player said he would not renew his contract, citing friction with the board and an agreement with Cruzeiro as the reasons for the decision.

According to Rodolfo Landim, the atmosphere became tense after winning the Copa do Brasil. That was because, in addition to announcing his departure right after the title win, the striker was the only one who did not wear the commemorative shirt made for the occasion.

— The atmosphere is complicated because we were all very happy, because Flamengo had become champions, the first team to win a title at Atlético’s stadium, all of that. And on top of that, the atmosphere… you had to see how the guys created an extremely hostile environment, to the point that the stadium speakers kept blasting Atlético’s anthem the whole time at full volume while the guys were celebrating -, he said.

— Then we manage to get through all of that and win, and the guy comes out and gives his first statement saying he’s not staying at Flamengo anymore. So, there has to be respect for his friends, you know, who were there winning and all that. There was a commemorative shirt that we had already had made, expecting to become champions, everyone wore that shirt on the way back and all that, and he was the only one who made a point of not wearing it -, added the former Flamengo president.

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