The Flamengo youth academy is enjoying a great start to the season. Having won titles in several categories so far, Flamengo is reaping the rewards of the investments made over the past few years. This Thursday (19), the U-16s beat Real Madrid in the 8th Hamdan International Football Championship in Dubai 4-2 on penalties, after a 1-1 draw. After the match, the athletes and coach of the Garotos do Ninho spoke exclusively to the official website.

"Taking a penalty is always exciting, especially in a final. I thought about balancing the emotion I was feeling with confidence. I felt the full atmosphere, but I've learned from my daily work at Flamengo, with the strength and faith of my family and my career managers, to stay calm. And, since Real Madrid took the first penalty in the middle, I thought, 'What goes around comes around!'" said Pedro Arthur.

One of the U-16 team's standouts is young Reinier, who recently signed a professional contract with Flamengo. "I never considered giving up. I've always had the support of my parents and family. I'm very grateful to them for that. It's an honor and a great pleasure to wear this Sacred Mantle. I'm preparing myself more and more with hard work and dedication. I've learned and matured a lot since I arrived here, and I'm having a great time. I hope to continue this way. I dedicate this phase to my family, especially my grandmother. Without her, I wouldn't be here at Flamengo and in Rio de Janeiro. My father and mother are equally important," he said.

For Bruno, the goalkeeper who shone on penalty kicks and gave the title to the "Mais Querido" (Most Beloved), the victory is the result of a lot of hard work. "First, I thank God for the wonderful championship we had. We worked really hard for this. I also thank Tiago, the goalkeeping coach, for the excellent work that enabled me to make these saves, and the entire team for their constant support. I was fortunate enough to save two penalties and helped the team win the championship," he celebrated.

"This achievement represents a personal contribution from every employee, from the laundry room, kitchen, management, communications... it's just the harvest of what Flamengo has been planting for several years. We are very pleased with the result and our performance in the competition, which was also very good. I'm thrilled to be experiencing this unique moment," concluded Flamengo coach Ramon Lima.