Flamengo fans arriving in Morocco to watch the Club World Cup will be well received by the local population. In the popular trade of the capital Rabat, for example, the club gained support after the elimination of the home team, Wydad Casablanca.
In the Moroccan “mercadão”, officially called the medina, the name of the Rubro-Negro is the password to receive a broad smile on the face and the promise of good energies in the competition, although the main thing is missing in the sporting goods stores: Flamengo’s shirt .
‘We are providing’
Rabat’s medina doesn’t have many tents with team jerseysbut in the main one, close to the entrance, with counterfeit products, there is, for example, the one for the Brazilian team at a cost of 180 Moroccan dihams (about R$90).
“We are arranging for Flamengo. We know that many Flamengo fans will come here and it is a very well-known club. I am rooting for Flamengo after Wydad’s defeat”, said the friendly salesman Said.
The medina is located in the old and touristic part of the city., and is surrounded by walls typical of the country. Handicrafts, typical cuisines, various types of articles and, of course, sports material are sold there. Entry is free.
Hakimi’s shirt is the best seller
The tent has shirts from different clubs around the world and also national teams and, according to the sellers, the most sold is the Moroccan right-back Hakimi, from PSG, who played in the World Cup in Qatar for his national team, and was fourth in the competition.
Sincerely, one of the sellers said that the shirt of the Brazilian team has not been so sought after:
“After the elimination in the World Cup, there was a drop in sales”.
Rabat still has few Flamengo supporters
Stage of the Club World Cup final, Rabat still has few Flamengo fans. The city hosted the game between Wydad Casablanca and Al Hilal, for the quarterfinals, and will also host the confrontation between Real Madrid and Al Ahly, on the 8th, for the semifinal.
Flamengo is staying and training in Rabat, but will play first in Tangier, against Al Hilal, on the 7th, in the semifinal. The match in the Moroccan capital will only take place on the 11th, either in the decision or in the dispute between the 3rd and 4th.
Most flamenguistas who arrived early in Morocco preferred to visit more tourist cities first and which are not hosting the competition, as in Marrakesh and Casablanca.
According to FIFA, around 10,000 people will leave Brazil for Morocco during the Club World Cup. There are still many red-blacks who will arrive from other countries, mainly Portugal and Spain.
