Having passed the tryout for Flamengo's first youth team in 2019, defensive midfielder/defender Ju Lopes is leaving for the United States. She will study and play at Lee University, the current NCAA D2 national runner-up in Tennessee. She officially said goodbye on Friday morning (29), receiving a personalized Sacred Mantle, and receiving much affection from her teammates and the entire coaching staff. Scorer of two goals in the Unifoot Diamante Pro Cup final (a title won in June), Ju wrote a letter expressing her gratitude to the club.

To Flamengo, with much love and affection

It seems like yesterday that, even going to Ninho do Urubu to sign my first youth contract, I couldn't believe I'd been chosen to form Flamengo's first youth team. In fact, it still hasn't sunk in. It's very hard to believe I've achieved this dream. But even harder is realizing our own greatness, because from the moment we donned the Manto, we understood that we need to be as big as the club itself.

I'm certain that, besides fulfilling a dream, I gave everything I could while wearing this jersey. For me, the most incredible thing was having the opportunity to live and write a piece of this story that's just beginning. I was able to experience firsthand the revolution taking place at the club, the scales it's reaching, and the scales that are taking the club to national dominance. 

I often joke that I arrived at Flamengo when "everything was a blur," since the project was still in its infancy. I remember rushing out of school and rushing to lunch to go train in the 40-degree Rio de Janeiro sun in the afternoon. It's hilarious to see how much everything has changed, and it's gratifying to see how much the sport has evolved. Today, we train at a better schedule, with pre- and post-workout meals, without relying on supplements. I've seen firsthand the improvement in infrastructure across all sectors. Flamengo valued us and encouraged us.

Living every moment of this evolution is a huge privilege, especially knowing that the results on the field were fundamental. It was thanks to our sweat, our daily individual sacrifice that no one sees, that everything evolved. And I'm extremely happy to have contributed to the development of the sport at the club.

I will never forget the energy I felt every time I wore the Manto, the goosebumps I got when we were in the locker room singing the war cry, winning every tackle on the field, scoring a goal, beating my chest and shouting "this is Flamengo!", all the victories, games, championships, reviews, laughs... I will never forget anything!

Of course, an athlete's life is far from being limited to good times. There are those moments that are rarely seen or remembered. But only athletes know the feeling of training poorly, losing a match, getting injured... However, all these moments only strengthened me and gave me more desire to improve and prepare for when the opportunity arose. I can say that I dreamed, trained, and achieved. And in the end, I don't remember these moments as bad, but rather as moments that helped me grow.

At the end of 2021, I ended up getting injured and being out for almost five months. I missed the Campeonato Carioca, the season I was desperate to play in. In March 2022, I returned to training with the group, and I confess it was a very difficult return, as it was my first injury, so it was difficult to adapt. 

I gradually returned, adapting to the girls' physique and the new coach's tactics, and everything was going well. However, there was something missing. Because of what had happened and what I had lost, my mental health was severely shaken, my confidence was low. And it took a while for me to return to normal. Even though everything seemed to be in chaos, my desire to wear the Flamengo jersey again and play a game was greater than anything. Recovering from the sensation of goosebumps upon stepping onto the field, feeling the weight of the jersey on my body, the adrenaline, the hot blood, and the sweat—that kept me focused on training so that, when I had a chance, I could seize it. 

And she appeared. 

June 26, 2022, Unifoot Diamond Pro Cup Final

Estádio da Gávea

Due to months without playing, the pandemic, and other factors, I hadn't played at Gávea since 2019, in a friendly with the team, which was still under-18. The atmosphere at the final was electrifying. The game was broadcast on FlaTV, there were invited fans at the venue, and my family and friends were also present. But I only thought about one thing: winning the first title for the women's youth team. Even with mixed feelings in my chest, realizing dreams like playing in a final for Flamengo, playing at the club's headquarters, and, among so many other things, my concentration was at such an extreme level that I surprised myself, and only at the final whistle did I realize how much I had matured in such a short time. I had the opportunity to start and score two of the team's five goals in the match. I'm sure it was a culmination of all my work, but even more so, of all the team's work. Because even though there are individual struggles, we can't forget that football is a team sport! The club's first women's youth team title. It's in history. I wrote my name there. We wrote our names there. 

I'm very proud of the history I wrote at Flamengo. I'm very proud to have been a part of it. And I'm even prouder to have seen women's soccer appreciate and grow at the club I love and admire so much. The Juliana of 2019 could never have imagined how happy, resilient, and fulfilled she would be... And how much she would grow in that time. She just thought it would take a long time to end.

Thank you to everyone who was part of my journey, whether they were athletes, staff, employees, or fans. You can be sure that our moments were memorable and will be with me forever! 

I fulfilled my dream and was very happy! 

It was a privilege to participate from the first training sessions, first championships, to the first youth title! 

Red and black runs in my blood...

May it not be a goodbye, but rather a see you soon! 

Ju Lopes #8