Julio Cesar: "Above all and everyone, comes Flamengo"

Goalkeeper is presented at CT George Helal

By Matheus Oliveira - in 29/01/2018 às 15:50

After 14 years, idol Julio Cesar is back at Flamengo. In a press conference held in the Victorino Chermont Press Room at the George Helal Training Center, the goalkeeper was introduced alongside president Eduardo Bandeira de Mello and football director Rodrigo Caetano. During the press conference, it was revealed that Julio Cesar will wear the number 12 jersey, the number representing the Flamengo Nation.

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"I'm returning happy, eager to work, to be a champion, and to end a brilliant career at this club. If I'm the man I am today, I owe my development to Flamengo," he said. "I've had offers from other clubs, but out of affection and love, I want to end my career here," he added.

At 38, the goalkeeper returns to the Mais Querido on a three-month contract, during which he will receive a symbolic salary, as revealed by Rodrigo Caetano. Julio expressed his joy at returning to represent his beloved club. "I'd like to thank the president and Rodrigo, who embraced this three-month project. I thought a lot about this possibility, but due to my history in football and with this club, I welcomed this return, along with friends, family, and other Flamengo fans, who said I couldn't end my career before closing this final page," he said.

Julio also made it clear that the contract will last only the specified period, with no possibility of extension. "There's no possibility of extending the contract. It's a pre-determined situation. If I play, I'll try to contribute, but it's a project to end my career at the end of the Carioca," he stated.

Determined to retire wearing the Sacred Mantle he wore at age 12, the goalkeeper's experience from his successful career will add even more to the squad. A declared inspiration to Thiago and Gabriel Batista, the number 12 also arrives to assist in the development of his young teammates.

"The players in my position are top-notch and have a lot of potential. I'm here to contribute and contribute to whatever the club needs. I'll behave like a professional and dream of ending my career with a title. Above all and everyone, Flamengo comes first," emphasized Julio Cesar, who commented on being seen as an idol by the goalkeeping duo. "It's a novelty that Thiago and Gabriel consider me an idol. My contribution will be in the day-to-day: training, the locker room. You have to observe and extract the good," he said.

This return also marks Julio Cesar's reunion with his contemporary Juan, alongside whom he began his career at Flamengo. The goalkeeper recalled moments spent alongside the number 4, praising the structure provided to the athletes at the training center today. "I rode with Juan and remembered: 'How many times did we pull strings to open the training center?' It's gratifying to see the evolution that Flamengo has achieved and still strives for. This also influenced my decision, the fact that I'm part of a new Flamengo," he celebrated, commenting on sharing this moment with a former teammate and friend. "Ending my career by his side will be brilliant," he concluded.