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Ribas reveling in Flamengo's success
- Diego Ribas won the CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores with Flamengo
- He is proud of the Brazilian’s side performance in the Club World Cup
- The ex-Juventus midfielder also assessed the Italian club's campaign
Two-time CONMEBOL Copa Libertadores winner Diego Ribas was still wearing the red and black of CR Flamengo when they lifted the trophy back in 2022, which secured their place at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, and is proud to have played a part in taking the Rubro-negro to the first edition of FIFA’s global club competition.
The former attacking midfielder, who came through the youth ranks at Santos, went on to represent a number of European giants who have also made the trip to the USA for the tournament (namely, FC Porto, Juventus FC and Atlético de Madrid). However, his spell at Flamengo at the end of his playing days was the one that really defined his career.
The former Seleção midfielder, now retired from playing, spoke to FIFA during the tournament about how much he is enjoying having the chance to watch his former team-mates shine on the global stage, particularly in Flamengo’s impressive win over Chelsea FC.
“I always feel very grateful and privileged to have been a part of an incredible rebuilding process, helping to form a team that has gone on to be as successful as they have”, said the former player, who scored 42 times in his 285 appearances for the club, spanning seven seasons in Rio.
Ribas gained an invaluable amount of experience during a 12-year stint in European football, a spell that made him really appreciate those who have trodden similar paths. One such player was Filipe Luis, a team-mate of his during his time in Madrid, who has since made the move into the dugout. The Brazilian duo won a La Liga title as well as a UEFA Europa League with Atleti, and they also spent four seasons together at Flamengo until Ribas retired in 2022.
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“Filipe has taken to coaching well,” said Ribas. “He has always studied the game and took his career as a player very seriously. He asked coaches a lot of questions because he was curious, so he learnt a lot. He has the tools to do well [at the Club World Cup] because of his knowledge of European teams, their mentality, how they like to play. He has a great ability to identify styles of play and what players are good at.”
Ribas sees Flamengo’s pre-tournament recruitment as another cause for optimism. Jorginho – the 33-year-old defensive midfielder who has represented the likes of Arsenal FC, Chelsea and the Italian national team – signed for Flamengo earlier this month and went straight into the starting lineup for their tournament opener against Espérance, helping his new side to a 2-0 win.
“Any player who has spent more than five years playing at the highest level in Europe’s top leagues is very capable, not just physically but technically and mentally,” said Ribas. “Jorginho has a lot to offer and Filipe knows how to manage him. He’s a player who will help Flamengo in all aspects: technically and with his leadership.
High praise for Porto youngster Rodrigo Mora
In 2004, when he was 19 years old and one of Brazil’s most promising young talents, Ribas won the old Intercontinental Cup with Porto. Portuguese youngster Rodrigo Mora still relies on his mother to give him lifts to training, yet the 18-year-old is already on the radar of some of the biggest clubs in the world.
“I used to have a similar hairstyle to his, it really reminds me of mine when I was at Porto”, the ex-player joked. “Rodrigo [Mora] is an excellent player. It’s really striking to see how brave he is on the ball, the boldness to take responsibility and be direct, going at defenders one-on-one. He’s a special player, for sure, and he has everything to become a pivotal player for Porto on the biggest stage.”
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How far can Juventus go?
Juve got their Club World Cup campaign off to a flying start with a 5-0 win over Al Ain FC, but Ribas says that the shirt could weigh heavy in the USA.
“Juventus are a massive club with a lot of history,” said Ribas. “That inevitably makes them one of the favourites in any competition they enter. They may not be enjoying their best spell at the moment, but they’re still coming into the tournament with a set of players who are very capable of competing.”
