Midfielder Nikau He spoke after being removed from the main team. Atletico This Monday (16). The 32-year-old player, in a statement, pointed to the bad relationship with coach Martin Farini as the main reason.
“I received the news of my dismissal from the matches by decision of the coach while he was in office. According to him, we have a lack of communication, not only today, but from the previous work we were in together,” Nikau said.
The two worked together at Cruzeiro in 2022. At the time, Farini was assistant to coach Paulo Pizzolano, who currently leads Valladolid, in Spain. São Paulo had loaned Nicão to Raposa, but the midfielder did not enjoy a great spell.
When he returned to Atlético, on loan until the end of the season, Cuca was the coach. But the turbulent departure was crowned by the arrival of Farini, who is having his first experience as a coach in Brazilian football.
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Furthermore, Nikau completed his position by saying that he still loves Atletico and that he prioritizes his relationship with the players and other staff.
“The relationship with all the athletes and staff at the club is great, and out of respect for the fans and the history of Furacao, in which I have participated with great achievements, I felt obliged to inform you of what happened. I will continue to train with you. A lot of dedication and work, as I have always done throughout these years.”
Read Nikau’s full memoir on his Atletico departure
Speak up, hurricane lovers!
Today I received the news of my dismissal from the matches due to the coach’s decision while he was in office.
According to him, we have a lack of communication, not only today, but from previous works we were in together.
I live and exist at a club that I have great respect, affection and admiration for.
The relationship with all the athletes and staff at the club is great, and out of respect for the fans and the history of Furacao, in which I have participated with great achievements, I felt obliged to inform you of what happened.
“I will continue to train with a lot of dedication and work, as I have always done throughout these years.”
Passion without brilliance and even with disdain
Despite being one of the symbols of Atlético’s most successful era, Nikau is still far from the peak of his career. The midfielder was even booed by fans in a defeat to Gremio in early August. At the time, Nikau dismissed the incident as a crowd outburst and praised the applause he received when he was substituted.
Since returning to Atletico on loan from Sao Paulo, Nikau made 17 appearances (10 as a starter) and scored 2 goals.both against Juventus in the first and second round matches of the Brazilian League.
Along the way, a muscle injury hampered the player’s progress in July. He spent about 40 days recovering.
Without ever being a starter, he was on the bench, but he did not even play in the draw against Fortaleza last Saturday (14) and came on in the last minute of the match that saw the elimination of the Brazilian Cup. Despite that, he did not take any of the penalties against Vasco.
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