In an interview, the former full-back recalls the behind-the-scenes of the decision to switch from Raposa to Galo in 1982.
Imagine a full-back who played in two World Cups for the Brazilian national team, won a Copa Libertadores with Cruzeiro, and became an idol of the club’s fans. This same player, after almost 10 years with the club, decides to play for Atlético Mineiro. It seems unimaginable, but that’s what happened to Nelinho.
The former athlete arrived at Cruzeiro in 1973, after a stint with Remo. With outstanding technical quality and brilliant free kicks, he quickly became a starter and never left.
In nine years with Raposa, he scored 105 goals in 411 games and helped the team win four Campeonato Mineiros (1973, 1974, 1975, and 1977), as well as the Libertadores in 1976. His story would come to an end in 1982 due to a disagreement with a coach.
Why did Nelinho wanted to leave Cruzeiro?
In an exclusive interview with No Ataque, Nelinho recalled the behind-the-scenes story of one of the most famous transfers in Minas Gerais football. The desire to leave the team arose soon after coach Yustrich returned to Cruzeiro. According to the former full-back, the then-Celeste manager had blamed some players after Cruzeiro’s penalty shootout loss to Boca Juniors-ARG in the 1977 Copa Libertadores final at the Centenario Stadium in Uruguay.
“He said that Joãozinho, Raul, and I were the ones who kicked him out. That Joãozinho and I were potheads, that I was a bad front for the group—he talked a lot of nonsense.”
Nelinho recalls that he didn’t even want to greet Yustrich during their first training session at Toca da Raposa. He recalls that he “eschewed” the reunion with the coach in front of the press and his teammates. “When (Yustrich) was hired, he gathered the entire team at Toca 1. A large circle, with all the players seated, and the press behind them. And he started giving a talk about his style. When he finished, he said, ‘Okay, now, only the players and I will leave here.’ ‘Let’s go into the locker room for another talk.’ He stood up and said, ‘Everyone, stand up.’ He walked out on the right, shaking hands with each player. When he started walking here, I walked there. He kept walking. When he got to his original spot, I got to mine. I didn’t shake his hand. Everyone saw it.” “He said, ‘Let’s all go to the locker room.’
I said, ‘I’m not going to the locker room. I’m not going to have a talk with this guy.’ The director said, ‘Nelinho, do it for me, man. Let’s go.’ I really liked the director, but I didn’t go. ‘Nobody’s forcing me to go, they can do whatever they want with me, but I won’t work with this guy.'”
For Nelinho, there was no other option: he had to leave Cruzeiro. “I told the board, ‘I’m not playing with this guy, forget it. Do whatever you want. Keep paying me, cancel my contract, sell me. I’m not playing anymore.'”
The sale to Atlético
According to the full-back, the first person to contact him was Ivo Melo, then director of Atlético. Despite being a rival, Cruzeiro reportedly agreed to sell him because they understood he would be a negative influence on the Cidade do Galo.
“Then Atlético came along, with Ivo Melo, who liked me the most. When they came to make the offer, there was a director from the time, along with Felício Brandi, who said, ‘No, let’s sell him; he’s a negative leader today. Let’s send him there, because he’ll ruin the atmosphere at Atlético.'”
Adjusting the values from that time to current values based on the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA), Atlético reportedly agreed to pay R$1.7 million to the club.
