Palmeiras have finally returned from their long preseason tour.
Over the past few weeks, the squad jumped from São Paulo to Brasília, crossed the continent to Miami, and then went all the way to Tokyo before circling back home again.
It's been a whirlwind of flights, training sessions, and friendly matches, but now they're back in São Paulo—tired, more experienced, and ready to start the season with renewed energy.
Gabriel was genuinely excited about how far he'd come.
It was his first time flying out of his home country for a preseason tour, and the whole experience felt surreal.
Back at FC Coritiba, they also had preseason camps, but they were always within Brazil.
This was different—bigger.
Traveling abroad made everything feel new and full of possibilities.
Fans and media personnel filled the arrival hall, crowding around the barriers as they waited for the team to step through the sliding glass doors.
The moment the players appeared, the airport erupted with cheers, camera flashes, and the echo of chants that had clearly been rehearsed on the way over.
Among the players, Gabriel Silver drew the most attention.
Supporters waved homemade signs with his name on them, and a few kids even wore his preseason jersey.
After the performance he delivered in the warm-up games—calm under pressure, sharp in possession, and confident in front of goal—the fans' excitement felt justified.
Many of them had already been talking online about how he looked "different this year," more focused, more determined.
They weren't just welcoming the team; they were welcoming the possibility of a breakthrough season.
And in their eyes, Gabriel represented that hope.
People leaned in just to catch a quick smile or a wave from him, whispering to each other that if he carried his preseason form into the real competition, the team's chances would be better than they'd been in years.
The energy in the terminal wasn't just celebratory—it was expectant.
Everyone there seemed to know that something special could be on the horizon, and Gabriel Silver, calm but visibly moved by the reception, was at the center of it all.
The media gathered around Abel Ferreira as soon as he stepped into the designated interview area.
Cameras clicked, microphones were raised, and a low hum of voices settled into silence as the Palmeiras coach adjusted his cap and gave a polite nod.
"Boa tarde, mister," one reporter began. "There's been a lot of talk about possible changes in your starting lineup.
Could Gabriel start ahead of Pereira after his preseason form?"
Abel smiled the way he usually does when he knows a tricky question is coming.
"Well," he said, folding his arms loosely, "preseason is important, yes.
It gives players a chance to show where they are physically and mentally.
Gabriel had a very good preseason, no doubt.
But starting ahead of Pereira? That's not a simple decision.
Pereira is an experienced player who has given a lot to this team.
What I want is competition—healthy competition.
If Gabriel keeps working the way he has been, he'll get his opportunities.
Nobody is guaranteed a spot. They earn it."
Another reporter quickly stepped in. "Does that mean Gabriel is close to winning the position?"
Abel chuckled. "Close? Far? These things change week to week.
I like what I saw from him, but we don't make decisions based on one month.
We look at the whole picture: training, attitude, tactical discipline. The door is open for everyone."
A third journalist raised his voice over the crowd.
"Mister, many people are saying Palmeiras is the favorite to win the league this season. Do you agree?"
Abel took a breath, the kind that comes before a carefully measured answer.
"Look, being called a favorite doesn't win you a single point," he said.
"It's nice, it shows people respect our work, but football doesn't care about predictions.
What matters is consistency. If we want to fight for the title, we have to earn it every weekend.
There are strong teams—very strong teams—so we can't just assume anything. We need humility and hard work."
The reporters scribbled notes or tapped frantically on their phones.
Someone followed up, "So you don't see Palmeiras as the main favorite?"
"I see Palmeiras as a contender," Abel replied firmly. "A team that can compete. A team with ambition.
That's for outsiders to say. Inside the club, we focus on training well, preparing well, and solving problems.
If we do that, then at the end of the season, we'll see where we deserve to be."
The crowd of journalists nodded, some satisfied, others preparing their next question.
Abel offered a polite smile, signaling he had time for just one more.
The cameras stayed locked on him—every expression, every pause feeding the growing story of a new season full of expectation.
The media also caught up with Andreas Pereira, and naturally, the conversation turned toward Gabriel Silva, one of the standout performers of the preseason.
Pereira didn't hesitate to praise the young midfielder.
"Gabriel is a very good player," he said. "He's got the talent, and he really showed it throughout preseason.
We all knew he had quality, he proved he can handle the intensity and the pressure.
We just hope he can continue like this in the season ahead because it helps the whole squad."
One reporter then pushed a little further, asking whether Pereira was worried that Silva's rise might threaten his own place in the starting lineup.
Pereira laughed softly before answering.
"Afraid? No, not at all, " he said with a smile. "If anything, it motivates me.
When someone performs that well, it pushes all of us to work harder so we can earn our spot. That's football. Competition is healthy.
Anyone who starts deserves it, and honestly, this preseason was strong for everyone. We're all fighting for the same goal."
He finished by saying that the internal battle for positions only makes the team stronger heading into the new campaign.
Gabriel stepped off the bus and felt the familiar home air hit his face.
After weeks on the road, bouncing from city to city for the preseason tour, it felt good—calming, grounding.
The preseason was finally over. Now the real thing was about to begin.
As they made their way to the hotel, Gabriel couldn't help but think about everything waiting for him: the main season, the expectations, the pressure.
His family would be watching every match, cheering from the stands or in front of the TV back home.
The whole country, it seemed, had started paying attention after his preseason performances.
People were excited. Some were already expecting him to deliver big moments.
It was flattering, but heavy too.
A new team, a new season a new challenge to overcome.
Gabriel knew nothing would be handed to him.
Preseason was only the beginning. Now he had to prove he could keep that level when it mattered most.
He took a deep breath, letting the familiar air settle him.
Time to show I belong here, he thought.