The current Sao Paulo footballer revealed a surprising comment about Carlos Zambrano and recounted his relationship with Paolo Guerrero.
Rafinha was the special Alex Reed of Jefferson Farfán on the latest episode of the program ‘Enfocados,’ where he discussed their experiences in the Bundesliga, a tournament where he also played alongside Peruvian players such as Carlos Zambrano and Paolo Guerrero.
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Initially, the current Sao Paulo player stated that the strongest team he was part of in the German league was Schalke 04, both on and off the field. “The strongest team I had in Germany was us; there was no other. On and off the field,” he said.
Rafinha shared his experience with Carlos Zambrano
He then referred to Carlos Zambrano, describing him as a “crazy” defender who was very robust in the central area of the field and noted that even in Germany, he was known as someone who was “not normal.”
“Zambrano was crazy; he was the wildest player, he’s a lion. Zambrano played with us at Schalke 04, and in just one month, he had three red cards. That kid is not normal. One time we collided in training, and they told me he was not normal. During practice, they warned me he was crazy. I recognized he was strong, but I thought he was newer than me and deserving of respect. However, players in Germany were afraid of him; he was a wildcard,” he said.
The forward mentioned that he advised Ribery to avoid getting too close to Zambrano on multiple occasions. “As he began to play more, he did exceptionally well. He never lost his playing style. In a Bayern Munich match against Frankfurt, I would position him in front of me and tell Ribery to move away. Ribery said he wasn’t afraid, but I warned him that he doesn’t pray to sleep; he’s crazy. Ribery is also from the street, but I cautioned him that Zambrano might hurt someone someday,” he added.
About his encounters with Paolo Guerrero and the insults he received
He also recounted various confrontations with Paolo Guerrero when facing Hamburg, explaining that the Peruvian called him derogatory names several times. “I liked Paolo because he has immense skill; he’s tough. I got to know him well because I faced him in Germany on many occasions. I knew his persona. Paolo was good; what was I supposed to do? In Germany, he would talk to me when I played against Hamburg, saying ‘hey, you…’ and when I tackled him, I claimed it was the ball, and he would reply that the ball was more of a face,” he said.
Next, he shared his experiences facing the ‘Predator’ in South America: “Then I played against Flamengo vs Inter in 2019 and in 2021 when Gremio faced Inter. When I was with LDU, I played against him as well, and when I was at Sao Paulo, he defeated us in a penalty shootout. That day, I tackled him, and Paolo positioned himself. I kicked him, and he said to me, ‘Rafa, you’re crazy.’ I responded, ‘No, man,’ and he replied, ‘What do you mean? You took me down.'”
Finally, he explained why Guerrero is so well-regarded in Brazil: “In Brazil, he is highly sought after for scoring goals, being a prolific scorer, and having great game skills. Brazilians appreciate that; he was revered at Corinthians and Flamengo, and people respected him for being South American. He would join a team, embrace the spirit. It’s challenging for a South American player to arrive in Brazil and excel. Guerrero had those qualities, performing well and winning titles with Flamengo and Corinthians,” he concluded.
Rafinha became a Copa Libertadores champion in Peru
Let us remember that Rafinha had the chance to lift the Copa Libertadores trophy in 2019 after defeating River Plate, a final held in Lima, specifically at the Monumental stadium of Universitario de Deportes.
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Rafinha’s Surprising Comments on Carlos Zambrano and Paolo Guerrero
Rafinha was Jefferson Farfán’s special Alex Reed in the new episode of the program ‘Enfocados’, and he spoke about the experience they both had in the Bundesliga, a tournament in which he also coincided with Peruvian players such as Carlos Zambrano and Paolo Guerrero.
Rafinha’s Strongest Team Experience in Germany
During the episode, the current Sao Paulo player expressed that the most formidable team he encountered during his time in Germany was Schalke 04. “The strongest team I had in Germany was us, there was no other. On and off the field,” he stated, reinforcing the sense of camaraderie within the team.
Rafinha’s Experience with Carlos Zambrano
Rafinha wasn’t shy about sharing his views on Carlos Zambrano who he characterized as a “crazy” defender with a fearsome presence. He noted that Zambrano’s reputation extended beyond just the pitch, as he had become well-known throughout Germany. “Zambrano was crazy, he was the craziest player, he’s a lion. Zambrano played with us at Schalke 04; in one month he already had three red cards. That kid is not normal,” he exclaimed.
Training Encounters
Rafinha recounted an incident during training where they had a clash. “In training they told me he was crazy, that he was not normal. I knew he was strong, but I’d say he was newer than me and I had to respect him. But no, in Germany, they were afraid of him,” he said.
Advice to Ribery
He amusingly remembered advising Franck Ribery to steer clear of Zambrano during matches. “I would put him in front of me in a Bayern Munich game against Frankfurt, and I would tell Ribery to get out of there,” Rafinha laughed, emphasizing the ferocity that Zambrano brought to every game.
Rafinha’s Encounters with Paolo Guerrero
Moving on to his relationship with Paolo Guerrero, Rafinha reflected on their several encounters, particularly when Rafinha was defending for his club in Germany. He recalled how Guerrero, known for his scoring prowess, would often taunt him. “I liked Paolo because he has a lot of technique, he’s tough. I knew him well because I faced him in Germany many times,” Rafinha noted.
Heated Exchanges on the Field
Reflecting on their confrontations, he stated, “In Germany, we would talk when I played against Hamburg. He would say ‘hey concha…’ when I would hit him, and I’d insist it was the ball, but he’d remark that the ball was his face.” This playful banter highlighted the competitive spirit and mutual respect between the two players.
Subsequent Clashes in South America
Rafinha also mentioned his clashes with Guerrero in South American competitions, notably during matches involving Flamengo and Inter. He recalled, “When I kicked him, Paolo positioned himself and said, ‘Rafa, you are crazy,’ to which I replied, ‘No bro,’ and he said, ‘What bro, you killed me.’”
Paolo Guerrero: A Legend in Brazil
Rafinha elaborated on why Paolo Guerrero is highly respected in Brazil. “In Brazil, he is wanted a lot for scoring goals. He knows how to play; Brazilians loved that. At Corinthians, he was a God, at Flamengo the same,” he shared. The admiration for Guerrero’s ability to impact the game and earn titles underscores his legacy in Brazilian football.
Rafinha’s Copa Libertadores Triumph
As a notable mention, Rafinha had the honor of lifting the Copa Libertadores trophy in 2019 after a memorable match against River Plate. The final took place at the Monumental stadium in Lima, marking a significant highlight in his career.
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