Muralha and Digão celebrate their chance to become a professional
Defensive midfielder and right back, youth champions in 2010, will be watched by Luxemburgo in Londrina
By Direct from Londrina (PR) - From the official website team - in
They didn't take a vacation, trained hard at Ninho do Urubu, and early this year, they traveled to the São Paulo Cup. A normal routine for two players born in 1993. Then came the call: Digão and Muralha would join the professional squad for the preseason in Londrina. A golden opportunity to prove themselves and gain some more experience in the city of Paraná.
Luis Phelipe Lima de Oliveira, born on January 21, 1993, became known by the nickname Muralha as a child, in his diaper, due to his large physique and his teammates' belief that he was difficult to dribble past. After winning the 17 U-2010 State Championship undefeated, he dreams of greater heights at Flamengo.
"It was very important for my career. I joined Flamengo in early 2009 and now having this opportunity is great. The first step has been taken. The second is to stay here. I'm going to run a lot, dedicate myself and try to stay on the team. When I was a young player, I was already bigger than my teammates. I played behind, they said it was hard to get past me and they nicknamed me Wall," he said.
Digão, or Rodrigo Longo Freitas, born on March 12, 1993, was also a starter for last year's Rio de Janeiro youth championship team. The right-back is modeled after other youth academy talents who have recently begun earning opportunities in the red-and-black squad.
"I'm very happy. I was in the São Paulo Cup with Muralha and we learned we were coming here at the request of Professor Luxemburgo. Now it's time to embrace this opportunity, give it my all in training, and try to stay in the squad. We have great examples of players like Diego Maurício, Negueba, and Galhardo, who have had success here in the professional ranks. I hope we can continue on that path," he analyzed.
Digão and Muralha are just two of the many players raised in Gávea who are part of this group currently in Londrina. João Vitor, a midfielder for the U-20 team, and Romário, a forward who was also on last year's U-17 championship team, are other prospects being monitored in the preseason.
Luis Phelipe Lima de Oliveira, born on January 21, 1993, became known by the nickname Muralha as a child, in his diaper, due to his large physique and his teammates' belief that he was difficult to dribble past. After winning the 17 U-2010 State Championship undefeated, he dreams of greater heights at Flamengo.
"It was very important for my career. I joined Flamengo in early 2009 and now having this opportunity is great. The first step has been taken. The second is to stay here. I'm going to run a lot, dedicate myself and try to stay on the team. When I was a young player, I was already bigger than my teammates. I played behind, they said it was hard to get past me and they nicknamed me Wall," he said.
Digão, or Rodrigo Longo Freitas, born on March 12, 1993, was also a starter for last year's Rio de Janeiro youth championship team. The right-back is modeled after other youth academy talents who have recently begun earning opportunities in the red-and-black squad.
"I'm very happy. I was in the São Paulo Cup with Muralha and we learned we were coming here at the request of Professor Luxemburgo. Now it's time to embrace this opportunity, give it my all in training, and try to stay in the squad. We have great examples of players like Diego Maurício, Negueba, and Galhardo, who have had success here in the professional ranks. I hope we can continue on that path," he analyzed.
Digão and Muralha are just two of the many players raised in Gávea who are part of this group currently in Londrina. João Vitor, a midfielder for the U-20 team, and Romário, a forward who was also on last year's U-17 championship team, are other prospects being monitored in the preseason.
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