Flamengo youth product gets unusual tribute in Rio de Janeiro | OneFootball

Flamengo received around R$ 50 million from Al Ahli (SAU) for Matheus Gonçalves

Matheus Gonçalves received a special tribute in Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone. That is because residents of Bangu created a large mural with artwork representing the player developed by Flamengo. The idea is for the image of the Al Ahli (SAU) player to inspire young people.

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– I was very happy and emotional when I saw the mural. It is a place that is part of my history, where I spent much of my childhood dreaming of becoming a football player –, said the attacking midfielder, who added:

– Knowing that this tribute was made by my friends and that it can serve as inspiration for so many children in the neighborhood makes everything even more special. I hope they look at this mural and understand that, with hard work, dedication, and faith, it is possible to achieve your own dreams –, he said.

When did Matheus leave Flamengo?

The Ninho do Urubu academy graduate played for the Rubro-Negro first team between 2023 and 2025. In August of last year, however, the Most Beloved agreed to sell the youngster to Al Ahli, who paid around 8 million euros (R$ 50 million at the current exchange rate).

How is Matheus doing at Al Ahli?

The attacking midfielder played 34 matches, scored four goals, and provided four assists in his first season in Arab football. In addition, he was part of the squad that won the AFC Champions League, the top continental competition in Asian football.

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