Maldonado, on the Chile national team, comments on his return to Bielsa's team
Flamengo midfielder trained with the Chilean national team this Wednesday
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
A longtime starter for the Chilean national team, midfielder Maldonado had been absent from Marcelo Bielsa's recent squads. After joining Flamengo in late August, he quickly earned a starting spot, his work rate reappeared, and he was called up again.
Hopeful of playing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Flamengo's number 13 commented on his call-up in an article on the website of his country's National Professional Football Association: "It's a good opportunity I have this time to demonstrate what I'm worth to the National Team. Of course, there are times when you think this possibility won't exist, especially because I wasn't playing and the National Team [of Chile] was doing very well in the Qualifiers."
According to Maldonado, upon returning to Brazil, he envisioned this possibility. "I've returned regularly and am in very good physical shape. Everything is a product of hard work, and when someone puts in the effort, it always pays off."
The player trained full-time this Wednesday with the group, which is preparing for the friendly on Tuesday, November 17, against Slovakia, after the cancellation of Saturday's game against Germany, due to the mourning of the death of goalkeeper Robert Enke. Maldonado and Fierro, if not cleared by the Chilean Football Federation, will be out of Flamengo's next game on Sunday, November 15, against Náutico.
Hopeful of playing in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Flamengo's number 13 commented on his call-up in an article on the website of his country's National Professional Football Association: "It's a good opportunity I have this time to demonstrate what I'm worth to the National Team. Of course, there are times when you think this possibility won't exist, especially because I wasn't playing and the National Team [of Chile] was doing very well in the Qualifiers."
According to Maldonado, upon returning to Brazil, he envisioned this possibility. "I've returned regularly and am in very good physical shape. Everything is a product of hard work, and when someone puts in the effort, it always pays off."
The player trained full-time this Wednesday with the group, which is preparing for the friendly on Tuesday, November 17, against Slovakia, after the cancellation of Saturday's game against Germany, due to the mourning of the death of goalkeeper Robert Enke. Maldonado and Fierro, if not cleared by the Chilean Football Federation, will be out of Flamengo's next game on Sunday, November 15, against Náutico.