News

Inspired by Bebeto, Vander wants to seize this golden opportunity.

The 20-year-old midfielder is experiencing his first days as a Flamengo player and is celebrating the opportunity.

By - in
The tattoo on the back of his neck asks God to grant him love and peace. But God gave Vander more than that at the beginning of 2011: the chance to wear the Flamengo jersey under the command of Vanderlei Luxemburgo. A golden opportunity for this 20-year-old from the outskirts of Salvador, with Bebeto as his idol and success as his main goal.

At his former club, he left a lasting impression. He is also missed by the fans and his teammates, who admire his football and potential. At Flamengo, he hopes to make a good impression. Undeterred by the competition and knowing that pre-season is a great opportunity to prove himself, Vander arrives to fulfill a dream and demonstrate his ability.

"It all happened very quickly. When I received the news that I was coming to Flamengo, I thought it would be a great opportunity for my career. I arrived in two days and I'm here today. It still hasn't sunk in. I'm going to fight to earn my place. Thank God I was able to help Bahia, I scored goals and made important assists. I'm a midfielder, I play more on the wing, I'm a bit individualistic and I finish well. I'm going to try to repeat the football I showed at Bahia," said the player, who has a four-time world champion as an example for his career at Flamengo.

"Bebeto inspires me a bit, because he left Vitória, came to Flamengo, and serves as an inspiration for me. If I could call him, it would be good. To get advice, but I haven't spoken to him yet," he said.

From São Marcos to Rio de Janeiro, Vander has been through a lot in his short career. But if he managed to reach Flamengo, he knows he owes a lot to coach Renato Gaúcho, who, according to him, helped him a great deal at Bahia. Now, with a new home and a new roommate, Egídio, who curiously played for Vitória, he hopes to continue his development.

"I'm from a peripheral neighborhood (São Marcos) in Salvador, I arrived early at Bahia and Renato helped me get started. He talked to me a lot, he was a great player, a really nice guy who helped me a lot. Egidio is also a nice guy, he's been sharing his experience and knowledge from Flamengo with me. I met him there in Bahia too," he added.

Vander arrived at Flamengo on a one-year loan, endorsed by directors and coaches he had worked with at the Bahia club.

Follow Flamengo's official Twitter profile

\

Check out the promotions page on Flamengo's Official Website

\

Check out the video gallery on Flamengo's Official Website

\

Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website

\

Check out the audio gallery on Flamengo's Official Website