Leaving Flamengo, Gabigol opens up about his relationship with former coach Tite

After announcing in front of live cameras, his departure from Flamengo during the celebration of the Copa do Brasil title against Atlético Mineiro this year, Gabriel Barbosa, known as Gabigol, still doesn't know what his lineup will be like in the last game of the Brasileirão, in next Sunday (8). On the other hand, number 99 spared no criticism of the team's former coach, Tite. On his YouTube channel, the web series “Até o Fim” tells a little about his career, in addition to the troubled relationship with the coach, which lasted almost a year at the Gávea club.

From absolute starter to the reserve bench

Gabriel Barbosa has always been an important player within the Flamengo squad. The 28-year-old striker started his career at Santos, and with his good football, he soon attracted attention from European football, where he played for a short time. When he was loaned by Internazionale to Santos, and later to Flamengo, in 2019, his shine returned, which led to many national and international titles, making him the idol of a generation.

Owner of the number 10 shirt for a long time, the player was almost unanimous among the coaches who have been in charge of Flamengo in the last five years. Tite, who was in charge of the team until September this year, made no point of hiding that Gabigol was not a priority in his preparation. So much so that there were only 37 matches played with the coach, however, in 33 of them, he came on during the match, as he was a substitute.

The bad relationship between the two had been going on for a few years. When Tite was the commander of the Brazilian team, he stopped calling up the player, which was widely questioned by the media and fans. Gabigol even said, on one occasion, that he didn't need to be called up, as he was part of a 'selection', referring to Flamengo.

His performance also matched the chances he had. The striker, who in other competitions, was the top scorer, in the period between October 2023 and September this year, scored just 4 goals. “There were several training sessions that were difficult for me, several games in which I came on for five minutes, three minutes. It was eating me up inside”said the player.

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_{Gabigol and Tite during a match played by the Brazilian team (Photo: reproduction/AFP/Yuri Cortez/Getty Images Embed)}

Controversial idol on and off the field

The confirmation of doping at the end of 2023 and conviction by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) further damaged the relationship, and the coach opted for other players at that time. The suspension for two years, and the reversal of the sentence shortly afterwards, did not change the situation internally, and the two remained distant. “Everyday life is much more complicated than telling the story at the end”he said referring to the time he lived in Gávea.

Tite's dismissal in September and the hiring of former player Filipe Luís for the position then gave the striker a new lease of life. Chosen for the final of the Copa do Brasil, Gabigol was the name of the game, having scored the goals that made Flamengo champion again. “After not playing for a long time, scoring two goals in the final is really different, it really matters to me”he said at the time.

Then, in front of the cameras, he said that he would not renew with the club that made him an idol. His statement was frowned upon by the board and cast, who, by mutual agreement, did not question his teammate's suspension for a few matches in the final stretch of the Brasileirão. So far, the player has not said what his fate in football will be. Considered at Cruzeiro, the striker has not yet officially committed to moving to Raposa. It remains to be seen, now, what Flamengo will prepare in the last round of the Brazilian Championship to say goodbye to one of the greatest red-and-black idols of our time.

Featured photo: Gabigol during Flamengo training (Reproduction/Gilvan de Souza/CRF/Instagram/@flamengo)