GABIGOL EXPOSES DISSATISFACTION AND REVELATIONS ABOUT INJURIES AND RESERVES AT FLAMENGO AND PLANS FOR 2024

Gabriel Barbosa, better known as Gabigol, did not hide his dissatisfaction with his reserve status at Flamengo during a frank interview given to the "Podpah" channel on YouTube last Monday. The striker, who had already publicly expressed his frustration with the lack of opportunities since coach Tite's arrival, expressed his concerns directly.

"Practically all the players played with him, and I didn't, Are you aware? Of course I'm pissed, I want to play. I'm not soft, I told him that. Obviously I'm not happy, I want to play. I went to Inter (Milan), Benfica, and I left because I wasn't playing. It's not individualistic thinking, everyone has been a starter with him, I haven't been yet. I know I don't have to stay here talking, it's about showing my best, when he needs me I'll be there."

The dissatisfaction of Gabigol raises the question: Is he the only player who wasn't a starter with Tite? ge carried out a detailed survey of all 23 players used by Tite in the 12 games in charge of Flamengo so far. The number 10 stands out alongside three other names: Rodrigo Caio, who recently left the club; Allan, who was injured and only became available again at the end of November; and Victor Hugo.

Interestingly, Gabigol is the second most used substitute by Tite, coming off the bench on seven occasions, behind only Everton Ribeiro, who entered the field for eight matches. However, in his appearances, Gabigol accumulated 218 minutes on the field (including stoppage time), without scoring goals or providing assists, but with two cards, one yellow and one red.

In the 12 games under Tite's command , Gabigol was absent on four occasions, one due to suspension (against Bragantino), one for medical reasons (São Paulo) and two in which he was not used, at the coach's option, against América-MG and Cuiabá. The interview with "Podpah" was not just an outburst about the situation in the team. Gabigol revealed that he played the entire season injured, suffering from pain in the adductor muscle of his right thigh.

"This year I happened to play practically the whole year injured. I injured my adductor in the second game of the World Cup. I recovered, but I was in a sequence of finals, it was important to be on the field, and I don't want to let go. I know it's bad for me, I should have stopped. In February I stopped, but Flamengo played Recopa, Brazilian, it was, it was, it was. .. I treated it at the Data Fifa charts, but I couldn't be 100%. I had to have stopped at some point there. It's all in agreement with the doctor, coach at the time, who was Vitor Pereira, then Sampaoli, Tite. It's due to wear and tear , I've been playing the most for five years. It wears me out and my body asked: 'Calm down for a bit'."

And he finishes, venting about the constant pain: "I don't remember the last time I played without pain. This one in the hamstring was a little stronger, I couldn't play 100%. It was a risk taken, I'm part of that". Gabigol's situation, between dissatisfaction and persistent injuries, puts into focus not only the dynamics within the four lines, but also the physical and emotional challenges faced by high-performance players in the competitive Brazilian football scene.

< /p>