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Danilo is presented at Maracanã and reveals his dream of wearing the Sacred Mantle

The 33-year-old athlete gave a press conference before the match against Sampaio Corrêa, in the sixth round of the Carioca

By - in

Ahead of their debut at the Maracanã in 2025, Flamengo officially unveiled their second signing for the season. Defender Danilo, with a solid European career, where he played for major clubs such as Porto, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Juventus, demonstrated his love and desire to wear the Sacred Mantle. Check out some excerpts from the press conference:





Decision to wear the Holy Mantle
"I decided to come to Flamengo because either I would come now, which is a time where I consider myself still physically and mentally very prepared, or I wouldn't come, because I would never come to Flamengo simply to be at the club and not produce, not be able to produce, not be able to influence."

Relationship with Flamengo
"Yesterday when I arrived at Ninho do Urubu it was a very special moment because there are several photos there. To be more precise, especially the one of Pet, in the goal against Vasco, the one from the free kick against my friend Hélton (laughs). The celebration where he opens his arms, then falls backwards like that, a movie played in my head, you know, because there, at that moment I was 12 years old, I dreamed of becoming a professional athlete and today I'm wearing the Manto."

Conversation with Filipe Luís
"It was important to emphasize that Filipe called me; we have a very good and close relationship. Since my time with the Brazilian national team, we've always been very close. But Filipe didn't need to convince me, in a way, as they say. I think anything a coach can say is much smaller than what playing for Flamengo represents."

Act as a defender
"Playing as a defender is a position I've completely mastered, having played for a few years in Italian football, which is a school of defenders and has contributed a lot to my career. I think this return to Brazilian football in this position can also open new paths for me, can give me new perspectives, and I'm always open to new challenges, which doesn't mean I can't also help out at some point, if needed, as a right-back, left-back, or as a midfielder."