Author: Vishwajit Sawant
In a twist of fate, Pedro, once Flamengo’s shining star, finds himself in a challenging period, far removed from his former glory. Last year, he dominated the scene, winning accolades such as the title of best player in the Americas for 2022 and even securing a place in Brazil’s squad for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. However, his current status is a far cry from his heyday.
Since the arrival of coach Jorge Sampaoli, the striker’s form has faltered, leading to a surprising relegation in the team hierarchy, where he is no longer Gabigol’s main replacement. Recent reports suggest that Pedro’s representatives have initiated contact with Russian club Zenit, indicating that the club is willing to shell out 25 million euros for his transfer.
The way forward for Peter is uncertain. Although Zenit have not approached Flamengo’s leadership directly, sources close to the player acknowledge the interest. Alternatives such as Al-Hilal and Benfica also emerged, but without significant progress. The catalyst for this possible change seems to be Pedro’s lack of playing time; in the last ten matches, he has barely played 250 minutes. Luis Araújo, not Pedro, was chosen by Sampaoli as the main alternative to the starting striker, Gabriel Barbosa. In addition, Pedro was criticized by the team’s former fitness coach, Pablo Hernández, for allegedly refusing to warm up in a match against Atlético Mineiro in July.
This unexpected fall from grace is particularly impressive considering that Pedro has recently played a key role in Flamengo’s success. He currently leads the team’s scoring charts this season with 27 goals, and was last year’s top scorer with 29 goals. Having amassed an impressive 97 goals in 200 games for the Rio de Janeiro club, Pedro’s recent difficulties are in stark contrast to his outstanding performances, especially during the last Libertadores, when he scored an incredible 12 goals in just 13 games.