After four years at Flamengo, 150 games and 10 titles won, Varela looks back on his journey.

When Guillermo Varela arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 2022, he joined Flamengo for a new career challenge. Four years later, with a consolidated history at the club, the Uruguayan affirms that Rio has become a home for his family:

“Everything has changed in that time. My daughter is from Rio, and that has also changed our perspective. Today, there is a possibility that my family will continue living here in the future, when I retire.”

His identification with the city went hand in hand with the one he built on the field. Recently, Varela completed four years of his contract and reached a special milestone: 150 official matches wearing the Sacred Mantle (Flamengo's jersey).

Throughout this period, the number 2 jersey was part of one of the most victorious cycles in the recent history of Flamengo. There were 10 titles: two CONMEBOL Libertadores, one Brazilian Championship, one Copa do Brasil, three Carioca Championships, one Supercopa del Rey, one FIFA Derby of the Americas, and one FIFA Challenger Cup.

In addition to the trophies, Varela has impressive numbers for the club: 91 wins, 32 draws, 27 losses, four goals and nine assists. In the current season, he has played in 23 matches and provided three assists.

Looking back on his journey, the Uruguayan highlighted the sense of belonging that has developed over these four years.

“I’m very happy. These past four years have been a great learning experience, four years in which I thoroughly enjoyed each season. Last year was a little special for me, but today, with more than 150 games played, I feel that Flamengo is already my home. I’m very happy here.”

Among the many games played, some hold a special place in the full-back's memory.

"The first one that comes to mind is my debut, against Ceará. Then, the game against Estudiantes last year, when I scored a goal, and the Libertadores final also last year."

His debut with the team took place on September 4, 2022, in a draw against Ceará, for the 25th round of the Brazilian Championship. Since then, Varela has established himself as an important part of the squad and had his longest season in 2025, when he played 51 matches, scored two goals and provided four assists.

Before joining Flamengo, Varela built an international career with stints at Peñarol, Real Madrid Castilla, Manchester United, Eintracht Frankfurt, Copenhagen, and Dynamo Moscow. He also established himself as a regular in the Uruguayan National Team, for which he has 30 caps and has played in the last three editions of the FIFA World Cup: Russia 2018, Qatar 2022, and the United States, Mexico, and Canada 2026.