Gabigol wore the number 10 jersey to watch the match between Flamengo and Atlético-MG.

On Wednesday (13), Flamengo played against Atlético-MG in the 33rd round of the Brazilian Championship, ending the match in a goalless draw (0-0). Even after the announcement that Gabigol would not play, the striker made a point of attending the stadium to watch the match.

Initially, Gabigol had stated that he would watch the game from the stands, but for safety reasons, he opted for the comfort of a VIP box. He arrived at the stadium wearing the iconic number 10 jersey, which previously belonged to him but was taken away due to a leaked photo of him wearing a shirt with the Corinthians emblem. Gabigol made his first appearance on the field at Maracanã before the game started, where he had the opportunity to interact with the fans. He was accompanied by Flamengo staff and the football manager, Luiz Carlos Azevedo. As he headed to the VIP box, some fans in the stadium corridor showed support with banners that read: "Closed with Gabigol", while other supporters taunted him.

According to the decision of football vice president Marcos Braz, Gabigol was removed from the red-and-black squad for reasons aimed at "maintaining team harmony." After the announcement, the player himself spoke out on social media, stating that he would still support the team and would be present to cheer. In his post, Gabigol expressed his gratitude to the fans: "Thank you, Nation! We will be together in the Norte tomorrow".

In the post, he also stated: "This was my last final. I will not stay at Flamengo. It has been a tumultuous year for me individually, there was the doping issue, then a coach who did not respect me as a player. During these moments, I never tried to express that in any way, but it was a horrible period for me. But I always worked, always tried to improve. I tried to show him that I could help in some way."

The red-and-black squad won the important pentachampionship of the Copa do Brasil last Sunday. The football vice president stated that Gabigol's removal aimed to provide tranquility to coach Filipe Luís, as well as to support the coaching staff and employees to continue their work and the pursuit of victories in the Brazilian Championship.

Flamengo Next game?

• Cuiabá (A) - 11/20, at 7 PM (Brasilia time)
• Fortaleza (A) - 11/26, at 8 PM (Brasilia time)
• Internacional (H) - 12/01, at 4 PM (Brasilia time)