Flamengo and River Plate are facing each other in the Copa Libertadores final on Saturday, with the winner getting a place in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The Brazilian media has been quite optimistic about the chances of the Rio de Janeiro side, and hope they can face Liverpool in the tournament’s final in Doha. Flamengo and the Reds played against faced each other for the Intercontinental Cup back in 1981.
Brazil played South Korea in a friendly on Tuesday, and since Everton’s Richarlison is a Premier League player, after the match he was asked if Flamengo could defeat Liverpool once again in a possible final.
“Oh, I don’t know, right… I’m their rival because they’re in Liverpool. But if… Oh, I don’t know, it’s hard. As I also played for Fluminense, I’m a rival of Flamengo, I consider myself as a rival. But let’s see, see the game, get the good stuff out of the game, but let the best one win,” said Richarlison (via ESPN Brasil).
“Liverpool are one of the greatest teams in the world, they were Champions League winners. I will also follow the Libertadores final and whoever gets through it will be a great match at the World Cup of Clubs. Whoever goes through, will face one of the greatest teams in the world, but with total chances of winning too.”
Richarlison previously had problems with Flamengo fans, since he entered some social media banter over their manager Jorge Jesus saying his club would be among the top six in the Premier League.
All of Richarlison’s social media accounts were hunted down by Flamengo fans at the time, and that’ll be one reason he doesn’t want to take sides. The Everton player would probably like both sides to lose should Flamengo face Liverpool, but he can’t choose that option.
