Estudiantes president on Flamengo: idol, Manto photo, money row | OneFootball

Juan Sebastián Verón was the 2009 Libertadores champion with Estudiantes (ARG) and is now the club's president

The relationship between Juan Sebastián Verón and Estudiantes (ARG) goes back a long way. It all started with his father, Juan Ramón Verón, who was a three-time Libertadores champion with the team in 1968, 1969, and 1970. In 2009, Sebastián himself won the competition as captain. Now, he aims for the achievement as the club's president. Despite his history with the team from La Plata, 'La Brujita', as he is known, has both declared his admiration for and been irritated by Flamengo on several occasions, and Coluna do Fla recalls three of them.

WHICH FLAMENGO LEGEND IS VERÓN A FAN OF?

In an interview with journalist Mauro Beting in 2020, Juan Sebastián Verón revealed that he closely followed Flamengo because of Maestro Junior. In the late 80s and early 90s, Mengão and Estudiantes faced each other eight times in the Supercopa of Libertadores Champions, and one of those encounters left 'La Brujita' enchanted.

— Before I was a player, as a fan, I liked to follow Flamengo. I followed them because Estudiantes played many games against Flamengo in the Supercopas. There was a player who stuck in my mind because we played in the same position, which was Junior. He caught us one day here in La Plata and gave us a terrible beating (in free translation, “had a field day”). We lost 3-0. He was already great, played on his toes. An animal. I always remembered that player and that jersey — said Verón at the time. However, the match in question was 2-0, in 1991.

PHOTO WITH THE FLAMENGO JERSEY AT GÁVEA?

In 2017, Estudiantes trained at Gávea, the headquarters of Flamengo, to face Botafogo. On March 13 of that year, Mengão gave Verón a jersey, and he posed for the official channels of the Most Beloved.

“At Gávea, Estudiantes (ARG) trained with an eye on tomorrow's challenge. “La brujita” Verón took a Sacred Mantle home,” wrote Flamengo at the time, with the number 11 Mantle and the name of the Argentine legend on the back.

WHEN DID VERÓN GET ANNOYED WITH FLAMENGO?

The most recent 'case' where Flamengo was a topic for Verón happened at the end of last year. The red-black title in the Copa do Brasil resonated in Argentina, especially the millionaire prize received by the club after lifting the trophy. 'La Brujita' vented on social media.

“And here (in Argentina) between the World Champions Tournament and the Argentine Cup, it's not even enough to cover the fans' buses… but the club belongs to the members,” wrote Verón. For comparison, Flamengo won more than R$ 93 million. Meanwhile, the winner of the Argentine Cup receives less than R$ 3 million.

WHEN WILL FLAMENGO AND VERÓN MEET AGAIN?

Thus, Flamengo and Estudiantes, led by Verón, will face each other on the next two Thursdays. The first leg, on September 18, will take place at Maracanã. The return match will be on 09/25, in La Plata. Both matches will be held at 9:30 PM (Brasília time).

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