Gabriel Barbosa is involved in a new controversy. After being suspended for two years for attempting to cheat in an anti-doping control - a punishment that was later suspended after an appeal - the former Benfica player is once again in the headlines of the Brazilian press.

The former Benfica player and one of Flamengo's main names appeared in a photograph wearing... a shirt from rival Corinthians. Immediately, and as a form of punishment, Flamengo opened an internal procedure, fined him and decided to prevent Gabigol from wearing the Mengão's number 10 shirt again.

Number 10, however, will continue to be used by Gabriel Barbosa in the Copa Libertadores, as the competition does not allow the numbering to be changed during the season.

O Clube de Regatas do Flamengo informa que, após reunião com o vice-presidente de futebol, Marcos Braz, e demais diretores do departamento, o atleta Gabriel Barbosa foi multado e comunicado pelo dirigente de que não usará mais a camisa 10 rubro-negra nas competições possíveis de…

— Flamengo (@Flamengo) May 17, 2024

Through social media, the Brazilian reacted to the punishment with a message, emphasizing that the change of number will not erase what he did with Flamengo's shirt.

Flamengo has fined Gabigol and will strip the number 10 jersey off him.

He was caught wearing a Corinthians jersey. pic.twitter.com/Dh6wrNFqKM

— Brasil Football 🇧🇷 (@BrasilEdition) May 17, 2024

"On that day, November 12, 2022, after having felt the greatest emotions of my life with the glories and expressive achievements for Flamengo, the club gave me a very special shirt, the 10, simply the mantle used by our greatest idol, Zico. I confess that I felt a certain insecurity, because along with that shirt came a great weight of responsibility. Here I found my best version and I am living the best cycle of my career. I am fascinated by titles and I have always expressed this in the excess of desire on the field, which is often interpreted in the wrong way", one can read in the note left by Gabriel Barbosa on social media.

"Flamengo allowed me to win many titles (2 Libertadores, 2 Brasileiros, 1 Copa do Brasil, 1 Supertaça Sul-Americana, 2 Supertaças do Brasil and 4 Cariocas) and to live these magical moments with the nation and to be welcomed by the biggest fans in America, that is the true meaning of the word happiness. In these more than 5 years of joys and some sorrows, I have always had one certainty, that of my love for this club, that of the love for the red-black nation. Today I was informed by Flamengo's directors that I will no longer wear the 10. It is up to me to accept and respect the club's command. But this will never erase the history I built with my teammates. I accept the next shirt and I will give my life on the field for Mengão until the end of our history. I love you Flamengo", he added.

Gabriel Barbosa's message© Reproduction Instagram Gabigol  

However, taking advantage of the controversy, Corinthians decided to use social media to provoke their rival. When promoting the sale of shirts through the club's store, several possible names appear to be printed and one of them is... Gabriel. "Everyone wants the new Timão shirt with their name", wrote Corinthians in the publication.

Todo mundo quer a nova camisa do Timão personalizada com o seu nome

Agora a personalização está disponível e você pode garantir a sua na ShopTimão!

Escolha seu nome e número, e receba no conforto de sua casa >> https://t.co/nDDbi4CEWa pic.twitter.com/Bowh6nPFaL

— ShopTimão (@ShopTimao) May 17, 2024

Read Also: Gabriel Barbosa authorized to return to the pitch while awaiting appeal (Portuguese version)