French icon Dimitri Payet revealed the reason behind his decision to keep shirts from Vasco’s rivals, such as Flamengo, tucked away from public view.
Dimitri Payet‘s time in Brazilian soccer was defined not only by his skill on the pitch but also by how the French star embraced the culture and the intense rivalries between Rio de Janeiro’s clubs. In an interview with French journalist Sacha Nabet, the former Vasco da Gama number 10 opened up about his personal collection of jerseys, which includes items from former teammates during his time at Olympique de Marseille.
The midfielder admitted to owning the Flamengo shirt, swapped with his friend Gerson, as well as a Botafogo jersey from Luiz Henrique. However, even while maintaining friendships with those players, Payet prefers not to display these relics in his home to avoid any misunderstandings with the Vasco fanbase.
I have the jersey from Luis Henrique, who played at Olympique de Marseille and then for Botafogo. I have one from Gerson, who was also at Olympique and played for Flamengo… But the rivalry between the clubs in Rio de Janeiro is huge, and out of respect for Vasco, I chose to keep those shirts at home. They are my friends and I like them, but out of respect for the Vasco supporters, I prefer not to show those shirts.
the Frenchman stated.
Time at São Januário
Payet arrived at Vasco in mid-2023 with the mission of elevating the club’s level. During his stint, the player made 77 appearances, tallying eight goals and 16 assists. Although he had moments of brilliance, his tenure ended without winning any trophies.
The athlete was part of the campaign that took the Rio side to the Copa do Brasil final in 2025. However, in the title decider against Corinthians, the club from São Januário was defeated, leaving the midfielder with a runner-up finish before his final departure in July of that same year.
Total focus on the Rubro-Negro
While Payet reflects on his experience in Rio, Flamengo remains focused on its season goals. After a period of rest on Sunday (23) and Monday (24), the squad led by head coach Leonardo Jardim reports back this Tuesday afternoon (25) at the Ninho do Urubu training center.
With no Copa do Brasil matches on the schedule, the coaching staff is using the extra time to make tactical adjustments and refine their playing style with the players, looking toward the remainder of the national competitions.
Next match in the Brazilian Serie A
The Mais Querido already has a date and time set to return to the pitch. Flamengo‘s next challenge is the classic match against Botafogo in the Brazilian Serie A. The match will take place this Sunday (30) at 4:00 PM (Brasília time) at the Maracanã.
As always, the M360 Team will provide all the details, behind-the-scenes coverage, and real-time updates directly from the stadium through our website and social media, following every step of the Rubro-Negro squad.
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