Libertadores winner on Botafogo move: “I was chosen”

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Coluna do Fla

·22 Juli 2026

Libertadores winner on Botafogo move: “I was chosen”

What did Gabriel Batista say in his press conference as a Botafogo player?

Goalkeeper Gabriel Batista is Botafogo’s newest signing. In his presentation press conference this Wednesday (22), the shot-stopper looked back on his time at Flamengo and also made a point of explaining why he agreed to the proposal to play for the team from General Severiano.

– I was happy to be part of that squad. I think I’m very grateful for everything that has always happened in my career and to all the clubs I’ve been with. Today is a different opportunity. It’s a chance to be more in the spotlight. And I have no doubt that I’ll do my very best to live up to expectations. As soon as I started talking and also speaking with people, it became easier –, he said, before concluding: – But I usually say that it’s not that it was easy to choose, I was chosen. So I didn’t really have much option other than to represent the Botafogo team. That’s important to me. I’m happy to be here today, very motivated to work and do the best possible for this club, which deserves it –, Gabriel Batista concluded.

WHAT WAS GABRIEL BATISTA’S JOURNEY AT FLAMENGO LIKE?

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Gabriel Batista began his career in Flamengo’s youth ranks. In 2018, the goalkeeper started taking his first steps with the Rubro-Negro first team, where he remained in the squad until 2022.

Throughout that period, Gabriel Batista was part of major Flamengo title-winning campaigns. As a result, the goalkeeper has one Copa Libertadores (2019) and one Recopa Sudamericana (2020), as well as two Brasileirão titles (2019 and 2020), two Brazilian Super Cups (2020 and 2021), and two Carioca Championships (2020 and 2021).

WHAT HAS GABRIEL BATISTA’S CAREER PATH BEEN SINCE THEN?

After leaving Flamengo, Gabriel Batista played on loan for Sampaio Corrêa-MA. Finally, the goalkeeper completed a permanent move to Santa Clara (Portugal), the club he played for until the most recent European football season.

WHAT IS FLAMENGO’S NEXT MATCH?

While Gabriel Batista arrives at Botafogo, Flamengo take the field this Wednesday (22) to face Chapecoense in the Brasileirão. In short, the ball starts rolling at 9:30 p.m. (Brasília time) at Arena Condá, in Chapecó.

That way, Coluna do Fla TV, as usual, will cover the details of the match on YouTube, as well as on its website and social media. Finally, Rede Globo (free-to-air TV) and Premiere (pay-per-view) will broadcast the clash.

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