Flamengo's Rodrigo Caio returns after 155-day layoff | OneFootball

Flamengo fans were in for a much-anticipated sighting on Wednesday evening as defender Rodrigo Caio finally returned to the field, having recovered from a right knee injury.

Caio, 28, was forced off in a 1-0 loss to Santos last December and has been sidelined for the five months since – 155 days of recovery, to be exact.

But the centre-back finally made his return on Wednesday, playing 45 minutes in the first half of Flamengo’s 2-0 win over Altos-PI in the second leg of their Copa do Brasil third-round match-up.

“I’m glad I’m back,” Caio said. “I’ve worked hard, in the morning, in the afternoon, at night, tirelessly, so that I could recover, along with the entire medical department, along with my private physical therapist.

“So those were my 155 days of recovery; a lot of work, dedication, a lot of belief that everything would work out.

“Today, I can play again. I feel good, I feel healthy, something I haven’t felt in a long time. So for me it was very gratifying.”

Caio has made five appearances for the Brazil national team since 2016, and was last linked with a potential move to Lazio before suffering his knee injury in December.