Sao Paulo — Former Brazil and Sao Paulo midfielder Richarlyson said in a podcast on Friday that he is bisexual
a rare reveal in a country where macho culture in soccer is rife
He is the first player from a Brazilian top-flight team to say he's bisexual
The 39-year-old Richarlyson played two matches for Brazil in 2008
He was part of the Sao Paulo squad that won the 2005 Club World Cup against Liverpool
The midifelder also won three national titles for the club
was also in Atletico Mineiro's Copa Libertadores winning squad in 2013
“All my life I was asked whether I was gay or not
I had relationships with men and I had relationships with women
too,” Richarlyson said in the podcast aired by website Globo Esporte
“So many people say it is important that I stand up
The former footballer who was a pundit at TV Globo said he didn’t talk about his sexuality previously because he believed “the world is not ready to have this discussion and handle this naturally.”
The only similar public case in Brazil was a fourth division player in 2010; goalkeeper Messi
Richarlyson said he chose his career over revealing his sexuality
“I am not saying this because I stopped playing
"I never said it because it was not my priority
I wanted to talk about my new career as a pundit,” he said
Neither Brazil nor Sao Paulo commented on the former player's interview
But a rival of Richarlyson during his career
Corinthians posted on Twitter: “Richarlyson was a great player
a great rival on the pitch and is a great sports professional
after he says he is bisexual he remains all of that
and puts himself as an important voice of the resistance