This Saturday, Grenal will have a different meaning for Jerome and Grêmio fans. At 39 years old and finishing his playing career, the multiple champion wearing the Grêmio shirt will be part of Gre-Nal for the last time. From the bench, or with boots and on the field, the defender will have one last chance to enjoy the classic atmosphere.
For 11 years and 14 titles, the club made much of its history on Gray-Nall, one of the best Brazilian defenders of his generation. 27 classic matches have been played with nine wins, 10 draws and eight losses. A goal was disallowed.
After dismantling Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2017 World Cup and eliminating him in the Clásico 405, the Grêmio idol also earned the respect of his main rivals. He kept the Colorados from horns or provocations during the Golden Age and captured important Guild titles. At the press conference in which he announced his retirement on October 1, he spoke about his relationship with Inter:
– Respect is a two-way street and everyone likes it.
The 28th Jerome Classic will be as special as the first. The Defender made its debut in style in Rio Grande do Sul. The Reds' long unbeaten streak came to an end with a 4-1 victory at the Arena, while the Tricolores had gone two years without beating their archrivals. They also broke a nine-match winless streak against their archrivals, reversing a loss in the Gaucho final by the same score.
History records many more happy moments for the defender than the difficulties in the classics. One of his lowest points in the clash occurred in Gre-Nal 405. In a debut before a mixed crowd in the stands, in 2015, the defender was only sent off in the games against Inter. Two moves got him rightly sent off by the referee. D'Alessandro was first cautioned for kicking. He later stopped Valdivia and was expelled.
A stumbling block that did not define the player's journey with Grêmio. Since he was on the field against Inter, his team has scored 30 goals and only lost 17 times. A performance that the player tried to summarize in an interview announcing his retirement date.
– Gremio allowed me to win titles, wear the shirt of the Brazilian team, be recognized for my work, I think every professional has that desire, I am very grateful for everything that Gremio gave me – he said.
One of these 30 goals was signed by the defender. He opened the scoring in the 2019 Brasileiro final on November 3 with a 2-0 victory at the Arena. “Alisson crossed the area, headed by Geromel, who jumped in front of Lindoso and Moledo, who headed the ball past Marcelo Lompa without a chance,” reported the newspaper Cero Hora on November 3, 2019.
Now, at the end of his career, Geromel has started on a few occasions. On Saturday you will have the opportunity to write the final chapter in Gray-Nall in 90 minutes or less. A path full of stories and themes.
Geromel in Gre-Nal
• 27 games
• 9 wins
• 10 draws
• 8 failures
• 1 goal
