However, after some difficult moments, the fans' darling admits that he thought about leaving Rubro-Negro

RIO DE JANEIRO - Since the start of this season, one name has always come to mind when things start to look bad in Flamengo's attack: Obina. Despite the rotation of players in the position, the legendary center forward is seen as the immediate solution to the lack of goals.

With the departures of Marcinho, who went to Qatar at a time when he was fighting for the top scorer in the Brazilian Championship, Souza, who went to Greece, and with the serious arm injury suffered by Diego Tardelli, Flamengo's board reinforced the group with Vandinho, the top scorer in Brazilian football when he was hired, and Josiel, who was the top scorer in the 2006 Brasileirão, with 20 goals. \ In addition to these, Marcelinho Paraíba and Fernandão, who was in Israel, were also present. However, none of these names managed to dispel the red-and-black favorite's slumber.\ In an interview with UOL Esporte/Pelé.Net, Obina highlights how he overcame a difficult period to adapt to the pressure of wearing the Flamengo jersey. The player, who was cheered on by hundreds of children throughout the interview, says that his greatest source of energy to overcome obstacles comes from himself.\ "At no point was I worried about the arrival of new players for the team's attack. Especially since they were all signed to help Flamengo, not to fill the starting spot. Some haven't even had the opportunity to debut yet. What I have to do is stay alert and seize my chances," said the 25-year-old from Bahia, who has already scored three goals in this year's Brazilian Championship. For Flamengo, the striker has played 157 matches and scored 43 times.\ A calm and humble man, Obina arrived at Gávea during a turbulent period, as Flamengo was threatened with relegation to the Brazilian Championship's Second Division. After a lackluster stint in Arab football with Al-Ittihad, the striker arrived in Rio de Janeiro as a rising star, a goalscorer, and a promising player for Vitória. But not everything went as planned at the beginning of his career with his new club.\ "I've always been a calm person. But of course, at a certain point, all the pressure got to me. But I had to believe in myself; only I could do that. I think it was this way, by remaining calm, that I managed to score goals and win important titles," says the player.\

More mature, Obina reveals that he even considered leaving Flamengo due to the harsh criticism of his playing style. Furthermore, his series of weight problems created an atmosphere of pure resistance and acceptance among the fans. But, as the world turns, it fell to him to score one of the club's first decisive goals. In the final stretch of the 2005 Brazilian Championship, in a match against Paraná in Curitiba, Obina scored the winning goal that ensured the Red-Blacks' permanence in the national football elite.\ However, the player knows that, in reality, all suspicion was only put aside after the first goal of the first decisive match of the 2006 Copa do Brasil, against Vasco. It was he who paved the way for the team's second title in the competition, as well as putting the Red-Blacks back in contention for another Copa Libertadores.\ "I really thought about leaving; it was something that really upset me. But my family always supported me and asked me to stay at the club. Eventually, those problems would end and things would work out," the striker said.\ Flamengo's "The Man"\ Having established himself as a true symbol, with his place secured in the hearts of Flamengo fans, Obina knows exactly how much responsibility he has within the team has increased. Year after year, signing after signing, the darling emerges as a true highlander among those who remain at the club. After all, stepping into the team during difficult times has become his specialty. In other words, the player already handles this kind of thing with a certain ease.\ "It's actually quite funny. But I'm a person who really embraces responsibility. It's different because every time I come on, I have to carry the burden of scoring goals for the team. Even the players here joke about it. I'm not afraid of making mistakes, I'm no longer afraid of boos. If I take the first ball I get, risk a shot, and it goes over the bar, I'll try ten more times until I finally get it right," said Obina, who went through the most difficult moment of his career during the 2007 Guanabara Cup semifinal.\ Early in the derby, he receives a ball inside the Cruzmaltino box, scores, and ruptures the ligaments in his left knee. From then on, Obina endured a true ordeal and was sidelined for five months.\ TITLES:\ Bahian champion with Vitória, in 2004\ Champion of the Copa do Brasil, in 2006, with Flamengo\ Two-time champion of the Guanabara and Carioca Cup, in 2006 and 2007, for Flamengo\ IMPORTANT MOMENTS:\ 20/11/2005 - Flamengo 1 x 0 Paraná, in Curitiba. Obina's goal saves Flamengo from relegation. \ 19/07/2006 - Flamengo 2 x 0 Vasco (1st game of the Copa do Brasil final). Obina opens the scoring.\ 15/02/2007 - Flamengo 1 x 1 Vasco (Guanabara Cup semifinal) Obina scores the goal and injures his left knee.\ 19/07/2007 - Flamengo 1 x 2 Paraná (Obina returns to the team after injury)\ 27/04/2008 - Flamengo 1 x 0 Botafogo (State Final - 1st game). Goal by Obina\ 04/05/2008 - Flamengo 3 x 1 Botafogo (State Final - 2nd game). Obina scored two goals. \