Paquetá’s friend at Sampaio Corrêa on Flamengo reunion: “I didn’t want to leave” | OneFootball

What did Matheus Iacovelli, Sampaio Corrêa's forward, say?

By: Pedro Paulo Catonho and Rodrigo Lima

The match between Flamengo and Sampaio Corrêa on Saturday night (07) served for the Rubro-Negro to find their way back to victory. Additionally, it was also a day for Matheus Iacovelli to revisit the Most Beloved. Having had a stint – and a troubled departure – at Mengo, the forward played for Sampaio Corrêa in Flamengo's 7-1 thrashing in the Carioca. In an interview with Coluna, the athlete shared behind-the-scenes details of the match.

A partner of Lucas Paquetá and Pedro in Flamengo's youth team, Iacovelli also played with Vitão at Palmeiras. His move to the São Paulo team is something the forward regrets. In 2016, the athlete couldn't reach an agreement with the Rubro-Negro for renewal and moved to São Paulo.

“My departure wasn't very pleasant, I didn't want to leave. I think at the time, due to my agent, I ended up leaving. However, I hold no grudge (against Flamengo), on the contrary, I'm very proud to have worn the Manto, even if only in the youth team, for a long time and scored many goals”, said Iacovelli.

HOW WAS IACOVELLI'S REUNION WITH LUCAS PAQUETÁ?

The story of Iacovelli and Lucas Paquetá in football goes back to the times they played together in Flamengo's youth categories. The Sampaio Corrêa forward made a point of saying that he always kept in touch with the current number 20 of the Rubro-Negro and, moreover, shared the ‘chat’ he had with the midfielder before the match started.

“We actually never lost contact. Paqueta is a great friend, we experienced many things in Flamengo's youth team and he knows the affection I have for him and his family, and I know it's mutual”, he emphasized, before concluding:

“Seeing him today at the level he's reached is a source of great joy. It was nice to share the field with him, even though we were on opposite sides. Before the game, we had a chat, we always do. I told him that if he dared not to swap shirts with me, the friendship would be over (laughs)”, Iacovelli concluded.

HAS IACOVELLI PLAYED WITH MORE FLAMENGO PLAYERS?

Yes! Besides Paquetá, Iacovelli had also played with other players from the current Flamengo squad. The first was Pedro, with whom he was together in Flamengo's youth team, while he played with Vitão during his time at Palmeiras.

WHAT WERE IACOVELLI'S OTHER RESPONSES?

Q: Do you have any cool stories with Paquetá from your time in the youth team that you can share?

A: “We have a few stories, but the funniest was one in a hotel in Espírito Santo during a competition. We shared a room and at one point we were lying down and I decided to grab an apple and eat it.

The apple wasn't very good and I threw it out the window without looking. Minutes later, they called our room, saying there was going to be a meeting. In the meeting with the team and coaching staff, they said someone had thrown an apple at a lady's head! Of course, we didn't say it was from our room and until today, only he knew it was me.”

Q: You also played with Vitão in Palmeiras' youth team. Did you have any conversation during the game, any teasing? Had you played with any other Flamengo player?

A: “Vitão is a friend, a great player too. There was no teasing, just the joy of meeting again after a long time. Pedro I also played with him in the youth team.”

Q: Flamengo wasn't doing well this year and broke their streak right against you. Did you see anything from Filipe Luís' team that impressed you?

A: “Someone was going to pay the price, for sure, and unfortunately it was us. I'm not impressed because I was raised among great players with a lot of technique, but the team is really good, balanced in all positions.”

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