São Paulo legends return to visit Cotia training ground | OneFootball

São Paulo welcomed three great names who were developed by the club—Kaká, Júlio Baptista, and Fábio Simplício—to its Laudo Natel Youth Training Center in Cotia. The former players took part in a meeting this Friday with athletes from the Under-13 to Under-20 categories, where they shared their journeys and experiences within the club.

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Legacy and inspiration at the Tricolor youth academy

The São Paulo idols emphasized the importance of valuing the structure provided by Tricolor, reinforcing the role of both human and athletic development in the growth process of young talents. The guests encouraged the athletes to make the most of every stage of their development in Cotia.

Kaká had two stints with Tricolor (2001–2003 and 2014), playing 155 matches and scoring 51 goals. The World Cup champion with the Brazilian National Team in 2002 highlighted the importance of this reunion.

“Coming here to Cotia is always a great experience. Meeting the boys again, talking, and sharing a bit of our journey and what our experience was like in São Paulo’s youth academy is always very special,” he said.

Júlio Baptista played 138 matches for São Paulo and scored 22 goals. Known for his great versatility, he praised the solidity of São Paulo’s youth academy: “We have to thank São Paulo for this opportunity to speak and for all the training we received here. We built values that helped us throughout our professional careers. It’s gratifying to see the structure the athletes have today.”

Former midfielder Fábio Simplício, who played 138 matches and scored 22 goals for São Paulo, highlighted the role of inspiration for new generations: “I always talk about leaving a legacy. Serving as an inspiration for the next generation has enormous value. Coming back to São Paulo, reliving moments, and reconnecting with special people who were part of our history is priceless.”

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