Former Flamengo player recalls his time at the club and admits immaturity at the beginning of his career

Matheus Sávio joined Flamengo 's professional squad in 2015, while still linked to the under-20 team. After an outstanding stint in the youth team and participation in the 2016 Copinha title, he was permanently integrated into the main group that same year. His career, however, did not have a solid sequence. Sávio alternated between occasional opportunities and loan spells. In an exclusive interview with the newspaper Lance!, the player acknowledged that he lacked maturity during that period.

URAWA REDS ON THEIR WAY

— Today, with the mindset I have today, the professionalism I have today, maybe I was a little immature when I started — said the midfielder, currently at Urawa Reds. In 2017, he had his most active season at Flamengo. He played 18 matches and scored three goals. Despite the modest number, he was seen as a useful player in the squad, especially in Campeonato Carioca games.

The following year was marked by another loan. This time, the destination was Estoril , in Portugal. The experience in Europe was short-lived: six games and one goal scored before returning to Ninho do Urubu. Back in Brazil, the midfielder had few opportunities at Flamengo in 2018 — just five matches — and ended up being loaned to CSA. At the club from Alagoas, he rediscovered his good football, scored four goals in 26 games and was state champion.

FLAMENGO OPENS ITS DOORS

His performance at CSA opened doors to the international market. In 2019, Matheus was loaned out again, this time to Kashiwa Reysol in Japan. On Asian soil, he played 20 games and was directly involved in ten goals. His performance attracted attention and the Japanese club bought his economic rights outright. Since then, he has built a solid career in Japanese football, with a notable stint at Kashiwa and, currently, at Urawa Reds.

At 28 years old, Matheus Sávio is preparing to play for the Japanese team in the Club World Cup. The tournament, which will be held in Saudi Arabia at the end of 2025, will once again put the midfielder in the spotlight. The player avoids any hard feelings with Flamengo, but he does not hide the fact that he would have liked to have performed better for the red-and-black team. For him, his personal circumstances and the stage of his career were important factors.