World Champion for France, Lilian Thuram visits Flamengo
On his first visit to Brazil, the former player asked to visit the 'people's club'
By Flamengo's Official Website - in
Flamengo's headquarters received an illustrious visitor on Wednesday morning (July 04.07). Former player Lilian Thuram, a World Cup winner with France in 1998, is visiting Brazil for the first time with his family and asked to visit the country's most popular club. Unexpectedly, without any fanfare, the former player arrived in Gávea, bought a red-and-black jersey, put his name and the traditional number 15 on the back, and went on a tour of the club.
Already recognized, in an interview with Flamengo's Official Website, Thuram revealed a passion for Brazilian football, of which he has been a fan since childhood, and a predilection for Rubro-negro, defined by him as the 'people's club'.
"If I had been born here or lived here, I would be a Flamengo fan. I know it's the most popular football club in Brazil, it's the people's club. I've always enjoyed playing football more than watching it, but I enjoy watching Brazilian football. I always have. Since I was little, still in Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe Island – a French territory in the Caribbean), I've always had Brazilian football as my inspiration. I have this preference for the football culture here," said Thuram.
Precisely because of this admiration, the former French right-back confessed that he felt like he was in a tight spot when he faced the Brazilian team in the World Cup final in 1998.
"As a boy, I always said, playing soccer on the sand, that I was defending Brazil. Years later, on July 2, 1998, I found myself facing the same team, only on the other side. It was strange, but I was 100% with France. It really was a paradox, because I've always loved Brazil," he explained.
Thuram will still visit other Brazilian cities on his family tour, but Rio de Janeiro has already left a lasting impression on this vacation, especially for the memories it brought back to the French idol.
"Rio de Janeiro is fantastic. From Flamengo, we're right next to the beach, but we have the mountains right next to us. It's truly incredible, and some of the landscapes bring back memories of my hometown. We also had a lot of contact with nature there," he concluded.
Already recognized, in an interview with Flamengo's Official Website, Thuram revealed a passion for Brazilian football, of which he has been a fan since childhood, and a predilection for Rubro-negro, defined by him as the 'people's club'.
"If I had been born here or lived here, I would be a Flamengo fan. I know it's the most popular football club in Brazil, it's the people's club. I've always enjoyed playing football more than watching it, but I enjoy watching Brazilian football. I always have. Since I was little, still in Guadeloupe (Guadeloupe Island – a French territory in the Caribbean), I've always had Brazilian football as my inspiration. I have this preference for the football culture here," said Thuram.
Precisely because of this admiration, the former French right-back confessed that he felt like he was in a tight spot when he faced the Brazilian team in the World Cup final in 1998.
"As a boy, I always said, playing soccer on the sand, that I was defending Brazil. Years later, on July 2, 1998, I found myself facing the same team, only on the other side. It was strange, but I was 100% with France. It really was a paradox, because I've always loved Brazil," he explained.
Thuram will still visit other Brazilian cities on his family tour, but Rio de Janeiro has already left a lasting impression on this vacation, especially for the memories it brought back to the French idol.
"Rio de Janeiro is fantastic. From Flamengo, we're right next to the beach, but we have the mountains right next to us. It's truly incredible, and some of the landscapes bring back memories of my hometown. We also had a lot of contact with nature there," he concluded.