Jefté shines on full debut, eyes Palmeiras v River Plate clash | OneFootball

Jefté made his debut as a starter for Palmeiras last Saturday, in the 4-1 victory over Fortaleza at Allianz Parque, during the 24th round of the Brazilian Championship. The player, newly arrived at the club, provided his first assist by passing for Andreas Pereira's second goal. Sosa and Raphael Veiga scored the other goals for Palmeiras.

“I am very happy because it was my first game as a starter. I have been preparing a lot and knew that this moment could come at any time. Debuting against Fortaleza and coming out with the victory was extremely important for me. Now we have a big match ahead, which is River Plate. I hope we can also come out with the victory and the qualification,” he said.

Jefté's Adaptation at Palmeiras

The 21-year-old left-back joined Palmeiras about a month ago and has played two games. One coming off the bench and another as a starter. The athlete is competing for a position with Piquerez, who is currently the undisputed starter. Jefté signed a contract with Verdão until 2030.

“Honestly, I didn't have any difficulty because the whole group embraced me a lot when I arrived. They gave me all the support I needed, so for me, it was very smooth. The issue on the field, the game, was what challenged me the most because I came from a club with a different scheme, but it was quick, everything was very easy, and I am adapting very well,” he analyzed.

Palmeiras Seeks Qualification for the Libertadores Semifinal

Against Fortaleza, Jefté got a chance among the starting eleven with Abel Ferreira's decision to rest the starters for the return match of the Libertadores quarterfinals against River Plate. The match kicks off this Wednesday at 9:30 PM (Brasília time) at Allianz Parque. With the 2-1 victory in the first leg, Verdão only needs a draw.

“I was at the game with River Plate there, and it's a unique feeling, I had never experienced that. You look around, the fans, you see 80,000 people cheering and see the greatness of the game. A championship like this changes a player's career. Our team played what it had to play, and we came out with the victory. On Wednesday, I hope once again we can get a good result and that our fans support us a lot so we can come out with the victory at home,” he projected.

Upcoming Palmeiras Matches

Palmeiras vs. River Plate, at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), at Allianz Parque (Return of the Libertadores quarterfinals) Bahia vs. Palmeiras, at 4 PM, at Arena Fonte Nova (24th round of the Brasileirão)

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