Former Corinthians, Roni remembers the classification of Boca na Bombonera and talks about maturing at the club

- By Mirella Ramos / Central do Timão Editorial

Revealed by Corinthians' youth teams, midfielder Roni gave an interview to GE and recalled memorable moments from his time at the Parque São Jorge club. Currently in Portuguese football, the player spoke about the historic classification against Boca Juniors, in the Bombonera, in the 2022 Libertadores, in addition to the challenges faced in his first years as a professional and the maturation process within Timão.

When remembering the duel against Boca Juniors in the round of 16 of the 2022 Libertadores, Roni revealed that he asked coach Vítor Pereira to participate in the penalty shootout. The midfielder stated that he woke up confident that day and highlighted the importance of the trust he received from the Portuguese coach.

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Agência Corinthians

"I was questioned a lot. Vítor gave me a vote of confidence. He came to me and said: 'They want me to improvise my position, but I'm not going to do that. It's you who's going to play'. He gave me a vote of confidence. I had a good game against Boca at the Arena. Then, in the second game, I asked to bat, but he already had the list. So I said I would bat sixth, but I was hoping to end up fifth (laughs). I hoped it would end. soon, but I had already asked to knock. I was confident, I don't know how to explain it."

Afterwards, the former Corinthians player detailed the feeling of walking to the penalty spot in front of a packed Bombonera and revealed that he had already been practicing taking penalties during the week.

"I woke up and I was confident. I knew I was going to do it. The walk is difficult, you keep walking... The Boca fans making noise. It's one of the most vibrant crowds I've seen. That walk to the penalty spot is difficult. The goal seemed to be getting smaller. I had trained that week. The coach got everyone to train. And I always trained like that, taking a hit in the middle. At the time our goalkeepers were Cássio, Donelli... The guys knew how to do it. I was going to hit in training and I let go of my leg. Sometimes they caught it, sometimes they jumped. I remember that Mantuan said after the game that he knew I was going to score."

During the interview, Roni also recalled the beginning of his professional career at Corinthians. According to him, the promotion to the main squad came at a turbulent time for the team, which required a quick adaptation to the club's characteristic pressure.

"The club wasn't in a spectacular phase, it was difficult. I remember we were fighting in the zone, they had just lost a game to Fluminense. That game was even charged at the airport. I remember I had never seen that. When I saw that, I thought that this was real. Corinthians taught me everything. Anyone who plays for Corinthians plays anywhere, no matter where it is. It was a troubled start, it wasn't in a good phase."

The midfielder admitted that he needed time to mature and understand the dimension of wearing the Corinthians shirt. Roni highlighted the importance of the coaches who went through his training and stated that he only felt fully prepared after a few years on the main squad.

"I scored the goal in the first game, but I was very young. My mind wasn't prepared for all that. In one day I gained 80 thousand followers, in one night. I saw my cell phone full of messages. I didn't know what to do, it was another life. It took me a long time to mature. I rose in 2020, I felt ready in 2022. I grew up with Sylvinho, who is a very good coach. One of the best I've ever worked with. With Vítor Pereira, I was ready, he prepared me a lot. But it took me a while, I wasn't ready for this greatness. It was very difficult for me in those first years as a professional.

Finally, the player also commented on the difficult period Corinthians experienced in the 2023 season, when the team fought against relegation until the final rounds of the Brazilian Championship.

"2023 was very difficult, I still spent the whole of 2023. And I left in 2024 for Atlético-GO. Difficult year. I ended up not playing much, I started playing. I even played well in Paulistão, but then, in the Brazilian Championship, I wasn't playing much. Sometimes, from the outside, it doesn't show how the player feels. Everyone there felt it. A gente dava a vida. Sometimes things don't work out, I don't know why. I remember I got injured at the end of the season and we got away against Vasco, in São Januário. Everyone felt it. And everyone worked. At home we were very strong, but outside we struggled. This year taught me a lot, I learned a lot. Today I'm another player compared to Roni who started as a professional. But I had to learn."

The post Ex-Corinthians, Roni remembers the classification of Boca at Bombonera and talks about maturing at the club first appeared on Central do Timão.

The content Ex-Corinthians, Roni remembers the classification of Boca at Bombonera and talks about maturing at the club appears first in Central do Timão.

Source: Timao Central