Gabriel Batista talks about his career at Flamengo: "It was my childhood dream to wear this shirt"

Gabriel Batista talks about his career at Fla: "It was a childhood dream to wear this shirt"

The U-20 goalkeeper commented on his arrival at Rubro-Negro and the feeling of defending the colors of the Most Beloved

By Mariana Sa - in 15/09/2017 às 17:02

Flamengo's long and strong tradition of developing athletes is no coincidence. Among the many names that have emerged from the Mais Querido's youth ranks, great goalkeepers have also had memorable stints. Gabriel Batista aims to follow this path.

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At 19, the young goalkeeper joined the club in 2014 and began to chart his path in search of opportunities. "I started playing futsal and would accompany my father to pick-up games. One time, a club in Niterói needed a player from 1998, and so I started playing more competitively. At 12, I joined Audax, stayed there during the youth team, and managed to win the championship. In 2012, I took a year off from playing due to school, then returned to the Carioca U-15," explained Gabriel.

"I've been at Flamengo for three and a half years, I arrived when I was almost 16. I played in the Copa Rio and performed well in my first year with the U-17s, when I also made it to the national team. Going to the World Cup was a dream come true. With the club, I participated in three Copinhas and won one, coming close in another. The next Copa São Paulo will be my last and I hope to be champion again," analyzed the Boy from the Nest.

Like other players trained in the youth ranks, Gabriel Batista had the opportunity to train with the professional team at the beginning of the year and be present in important matches, including the grand final of the 2017 State Championship.

"I had the realization of returning from the Copinha and starting training with the professional team, winning the Campeonato Carioca with them. It's gratifying because every player dreams of wearing the national team's jersey and a great team. I was able to reach the first team of the biggest club in Brazil so early. We have the biggest fan base in the country and the pressure is enormous. We always strive to be the best, and I'm sure I'll do everything to represent this Mantle well. It's a childhood dream to wear this jersey, so I'll honor it until the end," concluded the goalkeeper.

The Ninho Boys continue preparing for the season's upcoming challenges, which include the Otávio Pinto Guimarães Tournament (OPG) and the RS Cup. The U-20 team is also already working toward the upcoming São Paulo Junior Football Cup.