Everton Cebolinha Airs Frustration After Flamengo Exit
The forward cited discontent during his Santos presentation, but his public remarks undermined his role at Flamengo.
During his official unveiling at Santos, Everton Cebolinha voiced frustration over his final months at Flamengo. Bernardo Ramos analyzes the winger's remarks, pointing out the contradiction in demanding playing time after repeatedly asking to leave the club.
Everton Cebolinha was officially unveiled by Santos Futebol Clube and voiced his discontent regarding the final stretch of his spell at Flamengo. The forward mentioned being upset about his reduced playing time and pushed back against comments made by director José Boto, who had stated in an interview with ESPN journalist Pedro Ivo Almeida that the player had sidelined himself from the squad.
In the video above, Bernardo Ramos examines the fallout from the player's remarks, arguing that the forward's public stance made a leading role impossible under manager Leonardo Jardim. In the journalist's view, the board and coaching staff were simply responding to an athlete who repeatedly signaled his desire to leave.
Public statements and reduced playing time
Everton Cebolinha's narrative of frustration does not hold up against recent events. Right after the Copa Libertadores final—a match in which he came on as a second-half substitute and struck the post with a free kick—the winger was already making public remarks signaling his desire to move on. This pattern continued on other occasions, including an ill-timed mixed-zone appearance following the Recopa clash against Lanús.
Faced with this situation, manager Leonardo Jardim structured his attack with Samuel Lino as an undisputed starter. The tactical decision paid off on the pitch: Samuel Lino became the focal point of the season and earned a call-up to the Brazilian National Team. Furthermore, Cebolinha even asked not to play against Remo, a match Flamengo won that, combined with a draw between Palmeiras and Botafogo, secured top spot in the Brasileirão.
High cost and on-pitch output
Signed for a fee of €16 million, Everton Cebolinha ends his stint without living up to the investment. Echoing Mauro César's remark that mediocre performances are not enough at Flamengo, Bernardo Ramos characterizes the player as technically limited, unable to establish himself as an unquestioned starter even when the squad lacked depth on the wings. Even under Tite—under whom he starred during the 2019 Copa América title run against Peru before leaving Grêmio for Jorge Jesus's Benfica—his performances failed to reach expectations.
His departure also provides significant financial relief to Flamengo's payroll by offloading a hefty monthly wage. In terms of squad planning, the arrival of Joaquim Freitas as Pedro's backup allows Bruno Henrique to serve as the direct deputy to Samuel Lino. For Bernardo, rather than complaining about a lack of status, Everton Cebolinha should acknowledge his missteps in publicly airing his grievances before completing his move to Santos.