German club player dazzled by Flamengo, heaps praise | OneFootball

Fullback Grimaldo, from Bayer Leverkusen (GER), was in Rio de Janeiro in 2025

The U-20 team of Flamengo shocked the world by beating the professional team of Bayer Leverkusen (GER) 5-1 in a friendly last year. Despite Mengão’s rout, the players from the German club have fond memories of their visit to Rio de Janeiro. Spanish fullback Alejandro Grimaldo said he admires the Most Beloved and mentioned his favorite Brazilian players.

https://twitter.com/ColunadoFla/status/2011178271493202390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"

“I really liked Rio. I like Flamengo, a great club. Of the Brazilian players, I like Neymar, Ronaldinho, whom I saw play at Barcelona. I like them a lot,” said Grimaldo, in an interview given to the ‘GOAT’ channel this Tuesday (13).

WHAT WAS THAT FRIENDLY BETWEEN FLAMENGO AND LEVERKUSEN?

On July 18 of last year, Leverkusen traveled to Brazil for pre-season. However, the Germans chose the wrong opponent: the U-20 team of Flamengo. With a show from Lorran and Matheus Gonçalves, the Rubro-Negro handed out a ruthless 5-1 defeat, which had very negative repercussions in Germany.

Matheus Gonçalves, Arthur (own goal), Lorran, Pedro Leão and Gusttavo scored for Flamengo in the match held at Gávea. Of the goalscorers, only the fullback remains at the club. Matheus transferred to Al Ahli (KSA), Lorran is on loan to Pisa (ITA), and Pedro Leão signed with Orlando City (USA).

HOW ARE FLAMENGO’S U-20s DOING?

A month after the show against Leverkusen and Grimaldo, Flamengo’s U-20 team would go on to win the World Cup for the category, with a penalty shootout victory against Barcelona (ESP). Defender Iago was the hero in regulation time, scoring in the last play, and later stood out by converting a Panenka penalty.

Iago, by the way, will be on the field for the professional team this Wednesday (14), when Flamengo visits Bangu at Estádio Moça Bonita, for the Campeonato Carioca. The match kicks off at 9:30 pm (Brasília time), with broadcast by Globo (for part of Brazil) and full coverage by Coluna do Fla.

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