Rony: Edmundo

had a big impact

on me

Monday, 7 February 2022, 15:00 (local time)

Rony hit six goals in ten games to inspire

Palmeiras to Copa Libertadores 2021 glory
$

The 26-year-old believes the Paulista

giants can win UAE 2021
! ⚽ #

Rony discusses his difficult upbringing and

learning from Edmundo

Ronielson da Silva Barbosa was six years old. The

memory is maybe his earliest. It’s indubitably his
most life-changing.​
​
He awoke at the crack of dawn, after sleeping on a
makeshift wooden bed without a mattress, in a
poverty-stricken part of Para. He, his two brothers
and two sisters had to be on their hands and knees
early, picking weeds and planting seeds in a dusty
field. For it, they would earn a few pennies, which
would be turned into bread to palliate their hunger.​
​
One day, a car pulled up. Rony’s brother jumped in.
He returned a few hours later sporting the sweat
and battlescars of a football match on a potholed
pitch… and with a few notes in his pocket, which
were used to buy the five siblings toasties – an
enrapturing luxury.​
​
‘How cool,’ Rony thought. ‘It was cool that my
brother got to ride in a car. It was way cooler than
he got money for playing football’.

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​
Rony decided at that moment he wanted to become
a professional footballer. He was told, coming from
Magalhaes Barata, to get real. ‘Real’ has turned into
representing Palmeiras at the FIFA Club World Cup
UAE 2021™.​
​
And if one Rony was the subject of his own 2002
fantasy, another Rony is the subject of his 2022 one:
the 26-year-is is dreaming of telling his son and
namesake that he’s a world champion.

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Can you tell us about your upbringing in Para?

Para?​
It was really difficult. My life was really tough. We
were poor. I can promise you that it wasn’t easy to
get from where I’m from to where I am today. I can’t
put into words how proud I am to represent Vila
Quadros, Magalhaes Barata, the state of Para. I’m
very grateful, very honoured to have all the
supporters I have from there. I hope to make them
proud by delivering big performances at this Club
World Cup, representing the state of Para. The state
of Para is huge. The Palmeiras fan base is such. To
be representing them both is a huge honour for me
and it makes me so proud.​

Speaking of the Palmeiras supporters, you

grew up one…
one…​
My entire family is Palmeiras supporters. It was
great because Palmeiras had so many incredible
players back then and they have had others in
recent years. One who had a major impact on me
was Edmundo. He wrote a beautiful story at
Palmeiras. He was a sensational player and scored a
lot of goals for the club. I’ve talked to him a lot. He
responds to my messages. He's helped me a lot.

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Com o coração pulsando e ostentando o nosso escudo

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What went wrong at the last Club World Cup?

Cup?​
Last year was completely different. We had a crazy
run of games. We arrived in Qatar and had no time
to train. We felt like we were inside our rooms the
whole time, trapped. The timezone is completely
different. We had no time to adapt to it. We couldn’t
sleep properly. We tried to do our best but didn’t
get the results we wanted. But it was still a great
experience, we learned from it, and now we have
the opportunity to make up for it. We have so much
motivation, we’re so focussed. Just being here is a
huge privilege, but we are here to win the world
title. I’m going to give my all for Palmeiras to
become champions.​

What did you think of the send-off the

Palmeiras fans gave you?
you?​
The Palmeiras family put on a wonderful party to
send us off to Abu Dhabi. There were so many
supporters there. It gives you goosebumps. This
makes all the difference out on the pitch. I can’t
explain how much of an incentive this gives you to
become champions. Without doubt, with the
positive energy from each and every one of them,
we’ll be able to realise our target of becoming world
champions.

FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™

Rony discusses his difficult upbringing,

Edmundo and desire to win UAE 2021

How does it feel to be at the Club World Cup

again?
again?​
I’m so grateful to be here. It’s a dream. Few get to go
to a world championship twice. I’m really happy,
really excited. I have to thank God for the
opportunity he’s given me. I’m feeling totally
different from the first time I was here. I will enjoy it
as much as possible, because stuff like this doesn’t
happen all the time. I will give it my absolute all to
help Palmeiras become world champions. Not just
for Palmeiras and myself, to have this amazing title
on my CV, but also for my kids. It would be amazing
to tell me son in the future that his dad is a world
champion.​

Do you have any other targets at the

tournament?
tournament?​
Of course you dream. You dream about scoring a
goal in the Club World Cup, scoring the goal that
wins the match, being named man of the match.
But what really matters is doing everything I can to
help Palmeiras becoming champions.

CONMEBOL Libertadores
@TheLibertadores

The difference maker for the

champions!

The @rexonabr #UnsungHero of

the #Libertadores Final is @Palmeiras'
Rony!

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2:00 PM · Feb 1, 2021

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You’ve been making the young players do

initiations in front of the whole squad here in
Abu Dhabi, right?
right?​
(laughs) We joke around. Whenever a new player
gets here, we make them sing, dance in front of
everybody. We’re not letting anybody off just
because we’re here. I did it when I arrived at
Palmeiras and so they’re going to have to do the
same! It's good us all too because it takes our mind
off it and we have a laugh at the expense of the
youngsters.​

Palmeiras and Corinthains have been world

champions once apiece. Does the opportunity
to surpass your biggest rivals give you extra
motivation?
motivation?​
No. I don’t think about that at all. Corinthians have
their world championship. Palmeiras have theirs. I
know the fans think about this but I would really
want to win this title regardless. It’s a huge
competition. My motivation couldn’t be greater.

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Treino no avião? Tivemos!!! Não vejo a hora de entrar

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tem reservado para mim, mas vou lutar até o fim pelo
nosso objetivo!!! #DeusNaFrenteSempre
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Finally, what do you think of Abel Ferreira?

Ferreira?​
There are no words to describe the coach he is. He
gives us so much confidence. It’s a great privilege to
work with him. He leaves everything so well
prepared, sorts all the little details to make it easy
for us players. He’s a great man, and man of
character, and he’s an incredible coach.

FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2021™

Dudu: I believe Palmeiras can become world

champions

4 Feb 2022

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