Former Brazil and Sao Paulo midfielder Richarlyson said in a podcast on Friday that he is bisexual, a rare revelation in a country where macho culture in soccer is rife.
He is the first player from a Brazilian top-flight team to say he’s bisexual.
The 39-year-old Richarlyson played two matches for Brazil in 2008. He was part of the Sao Paulo squad that won the 2005 Club World Cup against Liverpool. The midfielder also won three national titles for the club. Ricky, as fans used to call him, was also in Atletico Mineiro’s Copa Libertadores winning squad in 2013.
“All my life I was asked whether I was gay or not. I had relationships with men and I had relationships with women, too,” Richarlyson said in the podcast aired by website Globo Esporte. “I am normal, I have wishes and desire. I dated men, I date women. So what?
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“So many people say it is important that I stand up, so I decided to say it today. I am bisexual.”
The former footballer and analyst at TV Globo said he didn’t talk about his sexuality previously because he believed “the world is not ready to have this discussion and handle this naturally.”
The only similar public case in Brazil was a fourth-division player in 2010; goalkeeper Messi, who played for Palmeira, a team from the inland city of Goianinha.
Richarlyson said he chose his career over revealing his sexuality.
“I am not saying this because I stopped playing. No,” he said. “I never said it because it was not my priority. It wasn’t today either, but now I felt comfortable to say it. I wish this was not a topic. I wanted to talk about my new career as a pundit,” he said.
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COMMENTS
Well said @Endurance.
Ignatius much respect my brother Happy Sunday. The E on my name represents Eligwe or Eligbue which means Heaven in English. It’s far from Endurance as you have always denoted. Gracias from here!
The wisdom of God doesn’t reside in darkness. I hope you’ll find light in due time by the Grace of the Almighty God.
Shut the F*** you JUDGEMENTAL PIECE of SH*T.. @CHIMA SAMUEL
Some of you that will be forming “HOLIER THAN THOU” do worst things BEHIND CLOSED DOOR..
The RICHARLYSON in question is a (GAY)FOOTBALLER and over the years they have calling on ATHLETES all over to make PUBLIC their SEXUALITY STATUS so it is still SPORT RELATED to me… I See nothing wrong with it..
And even if CSN try to GENERATE REVENUE from there is still nothing wrong cos they have to pay their STAFF too..
LMFAO!!
Niga take your RELIGIOUS FANATISM elsewhere. This is a SPORT PAGE filled with mostly LIBERAL FREE MINDED INTELLECTUALS.(And am proud to be one of them)
And you are in no place to JUDGE how people live their lives
Leave Judgement for GOD..
LMFAO!!
@CHIMA SAMUEL if you dare REPLY me again I will SUMMON all the BENIN gods to INFECT you with MONKEY POX
LMFAO!!
@CHIMA you dey GHANA dey carry ASHAWO upndan dey form PASTOR and MOTIVATION SPEAKER.. LMFAO!! Oh! You think I don’t know you?
LMFAO!! Dont worry I will pull up one day on you and BEAT the HELL out of you..
Even the BIBLE says JUDGE not so thou may not be JUDGED..
In essence leave JUDGEMENT for GOD..
FOOL!!!!