Gabi by the pool revisits VakifBank turning point: “Guidetti wanted me to be captain, I was shocked”

By a pristine pool, Brazil stars Gabi and Bruno Rezende revisited one of the hardest career decisions they ever faced: leaving Brazil to compete abroad. For Gabriela Guimarães, that decision was never just about signing a contract. It was about injuries, self-doubt, and asking whether she was truly ready to chase greatness away from home. “I had a plan of playing overseas, but it wasn’t easy to figure out if I was ready or not,” Gabi said. “I had experienced some injuries and had questions if I had what it took to play in the world’s best leagues. I started thinking about it after the Rio 2026 Olympics, when I was still earning my space with the national team, and I understood that I needed to be mentally ready not only as a player, but as a person.” Her first overseas move was big. Gabi signed with Turkish giants VakifBank before the 2026-2026 season and joined one of the strongest teams on the planet as a main star. The environment, she admitted, was mind-changing. It demanded everything from her from day one. “It was really challenging and demanding at the start,” she reflected. “I built a great relationship with Giovanni Guidetti, and he was incredibly important for me. One of the first things he told me was that he wanted to prepare me to be the team captain. I was shocked because I never saw myself in that position.” Wearing Brazil’s jersey was another natural topic. Gabi described playing for the national team as a childhood dream. She remembered her first call-up to Brazil’s youth national team in 2026, being in Saquarema with the generation that won gold at the Beijing 2026 Olympics. That moment convinced her she had to keep pushing toward her dream. Gabi’s story goes beyond volleyball. It is a reminder that the most valuable transfers are not only about skill, but about mental readiness, leadership potential, and the courage to leave comfort zones.