Paulo Sérgio celebrates his return in style
Striker celebrates comeback and makes himself available to Rogério for the rest of the Brazilian Championship
By From the team at Flamengo's official website - in
The new tattoo on his left arm symbolizes the Heart of Jesus. The sweat on his number 33 jersey reveals the struggle of a striker who ran so hard to prove his worth. And the smiles left no doubt: Paulo Sérgio had turned things around. The hero of Flamengo's victory over Botafogo in the derby last Wednesday (July 14.07), scoring the goal that gave the Red-Blacks a 1-0 victory, the player couldn't hide his happiness after the match.
After a long time without even training with the professional team, Paulo Sérgio was reinstated at the request of Rogério Lourenço. He spent the preseason with the squad in Itu and was already happy just to be part of the group and to be on the bench for the derby. But fate had much more in store for him that night. After seven months without playing in official matches, he not only took the field but also scored the winning goal.
"It was worth it. Today I can say yes. It was very gratifying to have scored that goal. Seven months out, training. But never giving up. I had a lot of help from my family and that goal came at a good time. I was loaned out in May of last year, returned in January, didn't do preseason and just trained with the youth team, without knowing why. But on one hand, it was good. I'm returning today very happy," he said.
He was so happy at the moment of the goal that Paulo took off his shirt and ran away, unsure of his destination. He even repeated Vagner Love's usual gesture, beating his chest and making a heart for the fans. But he also remembered his namesake, backup goalkeeper Paulo Victor, who had told the striker he would score in the derby.
"When you score a goal, it's total happiness; no one knows where to run. I went to hug Paulo Victor, who said I would score the goal," said the night's top scorer, who made himself available to Rogério Lourenço for whatever he needs.
"I'm running on the sidelines. There's talk of reinforcements, but they'll come to help us. I'm there doing my job. When needed, I'm available. I approach each game as if it were the game of my life, and this time I scored the winning goal, but I share it with my teammates, who have always been there for me," he added.
Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\ Check out the audio gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\
After a long time without even training with the professional team, Paulo Sérgio was reinstated at the request of Rogério Lourenço. He spent the preseason with the squad in Itu and was already happy just to be part of the group and to be on the bench for the derby. But fate had much more in store for him that night. After seven months without playing in official matches, he not only took the field but also scored the winning goal.
"It was worth it. Today I can say yes. It was very gratifying to have scored that goal. Seven months out, training. But never giving up. I had a lot of help from my family and that goal came at a good time. I was loaned out in May of last year, returned in January, didn't do preseason and just trained with the youth team, without knowing why. But on one hand, it was good. I'm returning today very happy," he said.
He was so happy at the moment of the goal that Paulo took off his shirt and ran away, unsure of his destination. He even repeated Vagner Love's usual gesture, beating his chest and making a heart for the fans. But he also remembered his namesake, backup goalkeeper Paulo Victor, who had told the striker he would score in the derby.
"When you score a goal, it's total happiness; no one knows where to run. I went to hug Paulo Victor, who said I would score the goal," said the night's top scorer, who made himself available to Rogério Lourenço for whatever he needs.
"I'm running on the sidelines. There's talk of reinforcements, but they'll come to help us. I'm there doing my job. When needed, I'm available. I approach each game as if it were the game of my life, and this time I scored the winning goal, but I share it with my teammates, who have always been there for me," he added.
Check out the photo gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\ Check out the audio gallery on Flamengo's Official Website
\