Among the players who came up through Flamengo's youth academy and stayed in Rio de Janeiro, training daily during the week at Gávea, is striker Diego Maurício. Number 49 quickly went from a top prospect in the youth academy to the center of attention in the senior squad. Since coming on in the second half of the match against Grêmio Prudente, the striker has been getting opportunities to play, but so far he hasn't had much time to train.

Therefore, he believes the last few days have been crucial, and predicts that the offseason could yield positive results not only for himself but also for the entire group. In an exclusive interview with Flamengo's official website, Diego revealed the differences he felt when he was promoted, both on and off the field, and said he's now a little more accustomed to the routine of being a professional soccer player.

Check out the full interview below:

Training in Gávea - The youth team was very busy, with many games, one after the other. When I was promoted to the senior team, I also didn't have much time to train, because I was selected for the first game. So the work I'm doing now is to make up for that time. The other players in the squad did a preseason, but I was in the youth team and only just got promoted. Therefore, the activities now are being very beneficial for me to be at my best in the offseason.

Physical conditions - At first, I was feeling a bit tired, but little by little, I'm getting used to it. The training pace is quite different, and I reached a point where it was also one game after another in the professional ranks. But with these days and the offseason, I believe I can perform at my best.

Second semester - I believe I performed well with the chances I had. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to score my first goal, but the fans can be sure that I work every day to bring them lots of joy. They can expect a player with a lot of fight. I know that, as a striker, I thrive on goals, and I hope to score the next chance I get.

Family - My family was very happy, and I'm incredibly pleased about that. I've always had a lot of support at home, and I hope to repay that trust on the field.

Rapid rise - It all happened so quickly. I was caught off guard. I was preparing to compete in the Belo Horizonte Junior Cup when I was promoted. I trained and, shortly after, was selected for the match against Prudente. Then I came on, won the penalty, and a bunch of journalists descended on me. I gave an interview; they wanted to cover where I started, a story about my family... It was all a bit complicated, but I'm used to it now. Football is like that.

Adaptation to the professional - The experienced players helped me a lot. Everyone welcomed me warmly and talked to me, which is crucial. The coaching staff also showed confidence in me and my playing style. I'm very happy about that.