After winning his 13th title in red and black, the striker opened up about a troubled year and said he felt disrespected by the coach; destination must be Cruzeiro
Under the shouts of “stay, Gabigol” in the stands of Arena MRV, striker Gabriel Barbosa announced that he will leave the club at the end of the season, after winning his 13th league title with the club. The statement was made on the pitch, shortly after the victory over Atlético-MG. In an interview, he revealed that this was his last final with the team and that he will not remain in the red and black squad in 2025. The idol of Fla fans expressed dissatisfaction with Flamengo’s management and recalled the challenges faced throughout the year, including a temporary suspension for doping. Without mentioning names directly, he criticized the coach, indicating that he felt disrespected. “It was a troubled year for me. There was the issue of doping and then a coach who didn’t respect me as a player.”
Gabigol also mentioned what he considers to be the failures of Flamengo’s management, who did not communicate important decisions directly to him, but rather through public statements, including podcast interviews. The striker reported that, despite having discussed with football vice-president Marcos Braz the possibility of renewing for another two or three years, no concrete proposal was presented. The player, who became an idol and the sixth highest scorer in Flamengo’s history, with remarkable spells since his arrival at the club in 2019, highlighted his affection for the fans and teammates. Excited, he declared that he will take advantage of the remaining games to say goodbye.
Despite not having revealed his next destination, there is speculation that he will play for Cruzeiro next season. Throughout his career at Flamengo, Gabigol won two Libertadores titles, two Brazilian Cups, two Brazilian Super Cups, one Recopa Sul-Americana and four Carioca Championships, in addition to being present in decisive moments for the club.
Published by Felipe Dantas
*Report produced with the help of AI
