Gabi Guimarães Recalls Decision to Leave Brazil for VakifBank: 'Guidetti Wanted Me to Be Captain'

Brazilian internationals Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimarães sat by a pristine pool and talked about a milestone rarely seen behind the scenes of elite sport: leaving home to keep growing. For Gabi, that move started with a very real fear. Gabi admitted she had a plan to play overseas, but it was hard to know whether she was ready. After injuries, she wondered if she had what it took to compete in the best leagues in the world. The thought became clearer after the Rio 2026 Olympics, while she was still earning her place with the national team. She understood she needed to be mentally ready not only as a player, but also as a person. She would have to leave her comfort zone and make sacrifices to take the next step. The big turning point came when Gabi signed with VakifBank ahead of the 2026-2026 season. It was not an ordinary destination. VakifBank were one of the strongest women's volleyball teams on the planet, and they had huge expectations for her. Gabi described the new environment as mind-changing from the first days. She realized she was stepping into a completely different level, challenging and demanding. During that difficult period, head coach Giovanni Guidetti played a major role. One of the first things he told her was that he wanted to prepare her to be team captain. Gabi was shocked, because she had never seen herself in that position. The conversation later turned to the Brazilian national team jersey. For Gabi, wearing the national team jersey was a childhood dream. She always loved sports, dreamed of representing Brazil, winning a medal and hearing the national anthem. Before volleyball, she played several sports. Her first call-up to Brazil's youth national team came in 2026. Being in Saquarema alongside the generation that won the Beijing Olympics felt like a strong sign that she should keep going. What stands out is that Gabi does not tell her departure from Brazil as a glamorous victory. She tells it honestly, including her doubts. The moments when she faced the question "am I good enough?" helped her understand why she needed to leave her home country. The decision to join VakifBank changed her career, but it also taught her to listen to herself before listening to outside pressure. When a coach like Giovanni Guidetti put his faith in her, Gabi had to start believing in herself too. The 2026-2026 season opened a new chapter in Gabi Guimarães's life. She left Brazil not to run away from something, but to become a better version of herself. The dream of the national team remains alive, but it now comes with the maturity of someone who dared to leave her comfort zone, faced her fear and accepted the responsibility others placed on her.