From Rio glory to Athens hero: the Brazilian rewriting Olympiacos history | OneFootball

After a standout 2022 campaign at Flamengo, capped by Copa do Brasil and Copa Libertadores titles, Rodinei decided to leave the club at what he described as the highest point of his career, opting for a move to Olympiacos in Greece.

Explaining his decision in an interview, the full-back—then 30 years old—admitted the transfer was primarily fueled by a long-held ambition to play in Europe, an opportunity he thought might not come again. “The motivation was a dream I always had, to play in Europe, which I thought I wouldn't be able to achieve,” Rodinei said. “After a fantastic season at Flamengo, when the proposal from Olympiacos arrived, I told my agents: ‘This is what I want.’ It was a dream from a while back.”

Rodinei’s time under Dorival in 2022 turned heads not just in Brazil; his attacking runs and influence from right-back even prompted calls from Flamengo fans for a Seleção call-up. As opportunity in Europe appeared to be waning with age, the Greek move felt like his last chance for such an experience.

Before making the jump, Rodinei sought guidance from Rafinha, his former teammate at Flamengo who also played for Olympiacos in 2020. Rafinha had faced challenges adapting to Greek football during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he encouraged Rodinei to embrace the move, praising both the club and the city of Athens. “Rafinha told me: ‘You can go with your eyes closed, you’re going to love it.’ Once I arrived, I immediately felt welcomed—the people, the energy is similar to Brazil, and even the climate helped me a lot,” Rodinei shared.

His debut season in Greece wasn’t without challenges; Rodinei needed time to adapt on and off the pitch. However, he soon found his footing, establishing himself as one of Olympiacos’ leading performers, both in domestic competition and the Greek Super League overall. Most recently, Olympiacos secured both the league and Greek Cup titles, with Rodinei playing a key role—registering 13 assists, the most of any player in the squad—and earning recognition as the league’s best player according to Sofascore.

In under two years, Rodinei has carved out a place in Olympiacos history. He now ranks as the second-most capped Brazilian to represent the club, with 117 appearances, trailing only Giovani. Looking ahead, Rodinei is set to make his debut in the Champions League group stage, another milestone for a player who once doubted he would get his shot in Europe.

For Flamengo, Rodinei’s departure closed a chapter of remarkable success domestically and continentally. But for the player himself, the move represented the fulfillment of a boyhood dream and, with his success in Greece, validation that he chose the right moment to chase it.

Source: Lance

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