As the pre-season tour rolled on, Abel Ferreira, his coaching staff, and the entire squad were preparing for the next leg of their journey — a trip to the United States to continue their pre-season campaign.
Spirits were high, and the players looked sharp as they packed up and boarded the team bus that would take them to the airport.
Outside the hotel, a crowd of fans had gathered, waving flags and holding up signs in support.
The atmosphere was electric. Even though it was just a pre-season tour, the energy felt like matchday.
For the fan in Brasília, this team meant everything — and they made sure the players knew it.
Abel Ferreira, always composed and observant, stood by the hotel entrance, clipboard in hand, as he spoke briefly with one of his assistants.
His mind was already on the training sessions scheduled upon arrival in the U.S., the upcoming fixtures, and the bigger picture: shaping a squad that could compete across all fronts in the coming season.
But this morning wasn't just another routine part of the pre-season grind — it was something more.
The fans in Brasilia had embraced the team in a way that left a lasting impression.
And that was evident in the growing crowd of fans that had assembled outside the hotel gates, waving flags, holding up handmade signs, and chanting the names of their favorite players.
Among them, the name on most lips was *Gabriel*.
Having recently joined the squad, Gabriel was still finding his footing — both on and off the pitch.
Yet, his debut had been nothing short of electric.
Scoring in his very first appearance for Palmeiras at the Estadio Nacional Mané Garrincha had not only boosted his confidence but instantly endeared him to the fans in Brasilia.
That his second goal — a well-placed finish in the bottom corner after a slick build-up — had sparked wild celebrations in the stands and planted a seed of hope among supporters that Gabriel could become a key figure for the club.
This morning, he found himself surrounded. Fans of all ages pushed forward, eager to get an autograph, a selfie, or even just a handshake.
Young children held up jerseys for him to sign. Teenagers shouted his name over and over, and older fans simply gave him nods of respect and encouragement.
It was a sea of support, and Gabriel, smiling through it all, did his best to meet every request.
"I wish I could sign every shirt here," he told one of the fans, a young girl who had waited two hours just to see him.
"But we're running out of time. Don't worry, I'll be back."
He signed as many shirts, caps, and banners as he could, and when the team was finally called to board the bus, he gave one last wave, blowing kisses to the crowd.
His energy was infectious — his joy, sincere.
As the team bus slowly pulled away from the hotel, fans followed it on foot for several blocks, some running beside it, others waving from sidewalks, car horns honking in rhythmic support.
There was laughter, music, and emotion — a community saying goodbye, if only temporarily, to a team that had made them feel seen and proud.
At the rear of the bus, a large banner had been placed as a message to the fans. It read:
Obrigado, Brasilia! Your love and support from day one have been unforgettable.
From the hotel to Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, you've made us feel at home.
We won't forget your love. We promise to make you proud this season."
You've been with us every step. We'll train hard and fight for every trophy — for you."
This wasn't just PR. The players had insisted on the banner.
They'd felt the warmth from the moment they landed in the city, and as professionals who'd seen countless stadiums and met thousands of supporters, they all agreed — there was something unique about the way the people of Brasilia had embraced them.
Inside the bus, the mood was a mix of reflection and focus.
Some players were already wearing their noise-canceling headphones, locked into their routines.
Others chatted softly, going over match highlights or sharing laughs about the past week's training sessions.
Gabriel sat near the window, still replaying the night of his debut in his mind.
The roar of the crowd when he scored, the chants echoing his name, the moment he looked up at the scoreboard and realized — this was just the beginning.
He opened his phone and began typing a message, something from the heart.
A few minutes later, it was posted on all his social platforms:
"To the incredible fans in Brasilia — thank you. From the moment I stepped on the pitch, you made me feel like I was playing in my home.
The crowd gave me my confidence," he later posted on his social media.
"That support? It made me feel like I was playing back in Curitiba, in front of friends and family. I won't forget this night.
Ever."Your voices, your energy, your love — it gave me strength and confidence.
That goals wasn't just mine, it was ours. The best is yet to come. Much love, Gabriel."
The post quickly gained traction. Comments flooded in — fans thanking him for the performance, promising to support him all the way, sharing photos from the match, and some even planning to travel to see the team in the U.S. for preseason games.
For Gabriel, it was a full-circle moment. Just a few years ago, he'd been playing with barefoot in the streets of Curitiba, dreaming of opportunities like this.
Now, he was living it — not just as a professional player, but as someone with a platform, a voice, and most importantly, a connection to people.
The bus journey to the airport wasn't long, but it was symbolic.
This wasn't just a physical transition from one country to another — it was a shift in mindset. The tour in Brasilia had laid the foundation.
Now, the focus turned to sharpening tactics, building fitness, and preparing to face international competition.
Abel Ferreira gathered the team briefly before they entered the terminal.
"Listen," he began, his voice calm but firm. "You've made a great start — individually and collectively.
The fans here showed us something powerful: belief.
Now we carry that belief with us. We don't just train for ourselves — we train for them. For every kid who stood outside our hotel.
For every chant in the stadium. We prepare now to win. Not just games. But hearts. Everywhere we go."
The players nodded in silent agreement. The mission was clear.
As the team passed through airport security and moved toward their gate, there were more fans — smaller in number, but just as passionate — waiting to catch one last glimpse of their heroes.
Gabriel gave out a few more handshakes, smiled for photos, and even gifted his match-worn boots to a young fan who had been waiting since dawn.
"This," he told a nearby staff member, "is what makes it worth it."
Hours later, as the plane soared into the sky, Brasilia disappearing into the clouds, the team settled in for the long flight ahead.
Some slept, others reviewed game footage, and Gabriel, headphones on, stared out the window, lost in thought.
He wasn't thinking about fame or pressure or headlines.
He was thinking about the faces of the fans who had cheered for him like he'd been with the team for years.
He was thinking about the little boy who cried when he gave him his autograph.
He was thinking about his family back in Curitiba, who had called him the night before, proudly watching his debut on TV.
And in that moment, he whispered to himself:
This is only the beginning.
The plane touched down at Miami International Airport just after noon, the humid Florida air greeting the team as they stepped off the aircraft.
Though the crowd at the arrivals area wasn't as massive or loud as the ones they'd seen in Brasília, a small group of passionate fans had gathered, waving Brazilian flags and holding up signs with names scribbled in bold letters—most of them for one player: Gabriel.
These fans weren't locals. Many were Brazilian expatriates now living in the U.S., students, workers, and families who had followed the team's journey from afar.
A few others had only recently learned about Gabriel—drawn by the buzz surrounding his rising stardom.
They came out of curiosity, but also with genuine admiration.
Despite their long flight, the players smiled warmly, visibly moved by the gesture.
It meant something to be welcomed so far from home, especially by people who still cared deeply about the team's success.
Gabriel, in particular, took time to sign autographs, exchange quick conversations, and pose for photos.
Among the fans stood a young woman, her eyes tracking Gabriel with quiet focus.
She waited for the right moment, then hurried forward, her voice a little shaky as she introduced herself.
"I'm Ana," she said quickly. "I'm from São Paulo but studying here in Miami."
Gabriel gave a brief nod, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, but there was no time to linger—the team was moving.
As he joined his teammates, Gabriel glanced around the city.
Miami was new ground, unfamiliar but full of promise. For him, this wasn't just another stop. It was the start of something new—a chapter waiting to be written.