Ceremonial veto, but Obama asks Patricia Amorim for Flamengo shirt
The US President was in Gávea this Sunday morning and met with the red-black leader
By From the official website team - in
The meeting between the world's most powerful man and the president of the world's biggest club will forever be etched in Flamengo's century-old history. US President Barack Obama visited Flamengo's headquarters in Gávea on Sunday morning (March 20.03). During his visit to the club, he met with Flamengo president Patricia Amorim and, breaking protocol, asked for "his" jersey. As a good "guide," the director granted the request and handed Obama the sacred mantle, the most beloved soccer jersey in the world.
And the jersey handover only took place at Obama's own request. The American ceremonial authority, which had authorized the Flamengo president to hand over the jersey to him, changed its plans on Sunday morning. So, Patricia Amorim donned the jersey bearing the American president's name on the back and waited for him, alone on the Gávea pitch.
"Those huge black cars pulled onto the lawn, he got out, and I welcomed him. I explained what a great pleasure it was to welcome him and his family to our home. Obama thanked me and asked me if I was the club's first female president. I said yes, and he congratulated me," said Patricia Amorim.
Before handing over the mantle, the red-and-black leader also greeted Obama's wife and daughters, who surprised everyone with his request.
"I spoke with his wife and daughters. Then I explained that Flamengo is the most popular and beloved football club in Brazil. I joked that we now had a player who was known worldwide and showed him his name on the back of the shirt. He asked me, 'Is that my shirt?' I said yes and asked if he wanted it, and twice he said yes. I then took off the shirt and handed it to him, and he looked at it for a few moments," the Flamengo president said euphorically.
The meeting, which lasted about five minutes, even included whispered conversations.
"I think it was because of the noise of the helicopters, but the fact is that Obama spoke in my ear. This day will be forever etched in my life. I don't usually feel like this, but in this case, it's impossible," he confided.
And the jersey handover only took place at Obama's own request. The American ceremonial authority, which had authorized the Flamengo president to hand over the jersey to him, changed its plans on Sunday morning. So, Patricia Amorim donned the jersey bearing the American president's name on the back and waited for him, alone on the Gávea pitch.
"Those huge black cars pulled onto the lawn, he got out, and I welcomed him. I explained what a great pleasure it was to welcome him and his family to our home. Obama thanked me and asked me if I was the club's first female president. I said yes, and he congratulated me," said Patricia Amorim.
Before handing over the mantle, the red-and-black leader also greeted Obama's wife and daughters, who surprised everyone with his request.
"I spoke with his wife and daughters. Then I explained that Flamengo is the most popular and beloved football club in Brazil. I joked that we now had a player who was known worldwide and showed him his name on the back of the shirt. He asked me, 'Is that my shirt?' I said yes and asked if he wanted it, and twice he said yes. I then took off the shirt and handed it to him, and he looked at it for a few moments," the Flamengo president said euphorically.
The meeting, which lasted about five minutes, even included whispered conversations.
"I think it was because of the noise of the helicopters, but the fact is that Obama spoke in my ear. This day will be forever etched in my life. I don't usually feel like this, but in this case, it's impossible," he confided.