Champion for Botafogo in the 1980s and 1990s, Gottardo assessed the imminent departure of Marlon Freitas to Palmeiras. The former defender recalled the experience of leaving Glorioso for Flamengo when talking about the fans’ reaction to the number 17’s decision.
“Fans are passionate, they want the athlete to be theirs for the rest of their lives. However, the market is not quite like that. In the past, the player stayed at the club for three, four, five years, or even longer”, pondered the former player.
“I stayed, in the first part, for four seasons, and in the second, three. That is, seven. In my case it’s a little different because I left Botafogo, I didn’t have a contract, I became available on the market and went to Flamengo. Three years later I returned to Botafogo”, replied Gottardo, at the Jogo das Estrelas, at Maracanã, this Saturday (27).
“Of course the fans are relentless. I even played against Botafogo here and they put pressure on us. (laughs), but it’s important that the more lucid fans understand that his work was very well done”, he supported.
“He honored the shirt, helped, went beyond playing, managed to strengthen the group, help the coaches. And the achievements, last year were wonderful. The fans cannot erase that, simply say: ‘Everything is forgotten, from now on he is our enemy’. They have to respect the person especially”, added the former defender.
An idol of the black and white defense, Gottardo was an important player in Botafogo’s resumption of protagonism in the 1990s. With the club, he won titles such as the , in addition to the Cariocas in 1989 and 1990.
Between his spells at Glorioso, the defender played for Flamengo, where he was state champion in 1991, and the Brazilian Championship in 1992.
with contractual details remaining to be resolved.
