Palmeiras star prefers Flamengo world title to Brazil hexa | OneFootball

Júnior Baiano wants Flamengo to win a second world title

Remembered in the history of Palmeiras for the 1999 Libertadores title, Júnior Baiano has never hidden that his heart belongs to Rubro-Negro. A product of Flamengo’s youth academy, the former center back did not hesitate when asked whether he would rather see Mengão crowned world champions or Brazil win a sixth World Cup.

See this photo on Instagram A post shared by Arena Fla (@oarenafla)

“I’m Flamengo through and through. My team comes first. I’m Flamengo, so Flamengo always,” said Júnior Baiano in a playful interview with the ‘Arena Fla’ profile. Besides wishing for Mengão’s second world title, the former center back gave more signs of his love for the club.

When asked about his most memorable match for Flamengo, Baiano pointed to the first leg of the 1992 Brazilian Championship final. On that occasion, Mengão ran over Botafogo and all but secured the trophy with a 3-0 win. In the return match, Rubro-Negro played for the result and drew 2-2, sealing their fifth national title.

DOES JÚNIOR BAIANO HAVE MORE HISTORY WITH FLAMENGO OR PALMEIRAS?

Júnior Baiano had three spells as a center back for Flamengo (1989-1993, 1996-1997, and 2004). Developed in the club’s youth system, the former defender won major titles such as the 1990 Copa do Brasil and the 1992 Brazilian Championship. The center back broke onto the world football scene in 1990 by scoring the title-winning goal in Mengão’s Copinha triumph against Juventus-SP with a beautiful chipped finish.

Called up for the 1998 World Cup, Júnior Baiano signed with Palmeiras soon after and won two international titles: the Copa Mercosul (1998) and the Libertadores (1999). Despite his strong identification with Flamengo, the defender is more recognized by fans of the São Paulo club.

WHO HAS THE SHORTER PATH TO THE WORLD TITLE?

Brazil need four more matches for a sixth World Cup. After all, Carlo Ancelotti’s team are in the Round of 16 and will face Norway on Sunday (05) starting at 5 p.m. (Brasília time). The match will take place at MetLife Stadium in New York/New Jersey, United States.

Flamengo, meanwhile, have a longer road to a second world title: ten matches remain. To add another star to the shirt, Mengão need to win the Libertadores — they face Cruzeiro in the Round of 16. After that, they must lift the Derby of the Americas, the Challenger Cup, and beat PSG (FRA) in the intercontinental final.

WHAT IS THE AUTHOR’S OPINION?

— Júnior Baiano was a great center back, but he gets little recognition from Rubro-Negro fans. It’s true he even had his own chant: “Baiano is mean, he goes after everyone.” But I see him as being held in higher regard by Palmeiras fans. Still, he won hugely important titles with Mengão — said Pedro Paulo Catonho, journalist at Coluna do Fla.

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