The Brazilian spoke about the time Flamengo showed interest in signing him, while he was still in Portugal, and adapting to the club
Everton Cipolinia recalled his departure from Benfica, in an interview with Globo Esporte newspaper, revealing that there were contacts from Flamengo, in the middle of the 2021/22 season, and that he had no doubts about returning to the Brazilian League.
“It is not a coincidence that I chose Flamengo and that Flamengo chose me. When they took me in Portugal, I did not think twice. There was the first contact in the middle of the season and I realized it was a matter of time.”
His adaptation to the club was not the easiest, however, and the Brazilian knew that things would start to go well eventually: “At no time did I doubt what I came to do here at Flamengo. Some players take longer than others, but today, thanks to the sequence of matches and the opportunity I had, I was able to gain that confidence and respond.
Tite was appointed coach of Jorge Jesus' former team at the end of last season, and the winger was very happy with his arrival, as he was one of the people he enjoyed training with: “I was very happy, because he was a coach.” Who I already knew, who also knew me, and who had confidence in my work. I had been called up to the national team for four years I think, so I already knew his day-to-day work and his methodology. He made it so much easier.”