Flamengo legend explains why he never swapped the red-and-black shirt | OneFootball

Flamengo have four Libertadores titles, three more than when Mancuso wore the Sacred Mantle

Flamengo’s jersey is called the Sacred Mantle, and for good reason. Former player Alejandro Mancuso said he never swapped the red-and-black kit with an opponent. After all, the former defensive midfielder considers Mengão the best team in the world.

— They got p*ssed off because I was a guy who liked to fight. I was feisty, I was a very hot-headed guy, very fiery at heart… — said the red-and-black legend, who added:

— But you know what’s funniest of all? When it was over, that was the first thing they asked me for. I never swapped a Flamengo shirt with anyone. Because I thought Flamengo’s shirt was the best in the world — Mancuso told ‘GE TV’ (YouTube).

Why is Flamengo the biggest club in the world?

Because of Flamengo, the former player became almost Brazilian after playing in Brazil. Since the Argentine wore the Sacred Mantle, the club has won countless titles, such as three Brasileirão championships and three Libertadores.

Who is Mancuso?

The midfielder arrived at Flamengo in 1996 from Palmeiras. That was because the São Paulo club’s coach, Vanderlei Luxemburgo, allowed the defensive midfielder to sign with Fla. As a result, the new signing played with great grit and became a fan favorite.

In this way, the ball-winner made his mark with titles such as the Copa de Ouro, won unbeaten and at the Maracanã. The opponent in the final was São Paulo, and the match ended 3–1 for Mengo.

During that spell at the club, Mancuso played alongside big names such as Athirson, Sávio, Fábio Baiano, Nélio, among others. It is worth noting that it was precisely that year that center-back Juan joined the first team.

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