Gabi and Bruno: Leaving Brazil, the VakifBank turning point and the yellow-green dream

By a quiet pool, two legends of Brazilian volleyball – Bruno Rezende and Gabi Guimarães – reflected on the days they left home. No whistles, no stands, just memories of a bigger question: how to find the courage to step out of your comfort zone? Gabi did not hesitate to open up. She said she always had a plan to play abroad, but knowing whether she was truly ready was never easy. She had been through injuries and doubts about whether she could compete in the best leagues in the world. Those questions kept spinning in her head, especially before joining a giant like VakifBank. Looking into the water, she recalled the period after the Rio 2026 Olympics. At that time, she was still earning her place with the Brazilian national team. The dream of wearing the yellow-green jersey was a strong motivation, but also a source of pressure. She understood that to take the next step in her career, she had to be mentally strong not only as a player but also as a person. She needed to leave her comfort zone, accept sacrifices, and go overseas. In the 2026-2026 season, Gabi signed with Turkish giants VakifBank, one of the strongest clubs on the planet. She was not just a supporting player; she was expected to be one of the main stars. The move completely changed her view of high-level volleyball. From the very beginning, she felt an entirely different level of competition and professionalism. She admitted: “The scenario I found when I got there was mind-changing, as it showed me right from the start that I was getting into a whole other level of volleyball.” Everything was more demanding, faster, and more pressurised than she had ever experienced. The key factor was her relationship with head coach Giovanni Guidetti. Gabi called him incredibly important. In the early days, he told her he wanted to prepare her to become team captain. She was shocked, because she had never seen herself in that leadership role. But Guidetti saw something in her that she had not yet recognised: consistency, tactical intelligence and a high sense of responsibility. Over time, Gabi embraced the captaincy challenge. She grew from a shy newcomer into a true leader. She won many trophies with VakifBank, but her conversation with Bruno was less about titles and more about inner growth. Bruno, a veteran who had played in several European leagues, listened with a smile. He understood the pain of leaving home, of adapting to a new language and culture. For elite athletes, homesickness remains very human. Bruno and Gabi both lived those long days far away from family, having only teammates and the ball. The talk turned to the national team. Gabi recalled her first call-up to Brazil's youth national team in 2026. She went to Saquarema, the national training centre, where she breathed the atmosphere of the golden generation that won the Olympic gold at Beijing 2026. For a young girl chasing a volleyball dream, that moment was a strong sign to continue, because she had never been so close to her dream before. “To play for the national team is really a childhood dream. It brings me back to my youth because I always loved watching and playing sports and dreamed about representing Brazil, winning a medal and listening to the national anthem,” she said. Gabi also shared that every time she puts on the national team jersey, she feels the same sacred pride. No matter where she plays, the memory of Brazilian culture and passionate fans keeps motivating her. The story also highlights a less-spoken truth: going abroad is not a bed of roses. The intense European competition demands constant adaptation. People usually talk about salaries and fame, but rarely about sleepless nights, unreported injuries and silent sacrifices. Gabi talked about leaving her comfort zone, but it was from those losses that she built a stronger version of herself. There is one moment no camera recorded: Gabi and Bruno by the pool, without any media. They were not talking tactics or stats. They talked about the tears after painful defeats, the loneliness of playing abroad, and the inner strength they gained over time. Volleyball is never a sport for the impatient. But for Gabi, every difficulty is worth it when she steps on court for VakifBank and for Brazil. She is proud of the progress of Brazilian women's volleyball. Younger generations now have more role models and better conditions, thanks partly to the efforts of players like her and Bruno. At the end of the conversation, Gabi looked at Bruno and talked about the future. She didn't speak of leaving the national team; she spoke of continuing as long as her body allows. She wants to stand on the podium with her Brazilian teammates once more and hear the national anthem as a reward for a long career full of sacrifices. In a rapidly changing volleyball world, Gabi's journey reminds us that the path to an international career is always full of obstacles. For young Brazilian girls, she is an example of daring to leave the boundaries of comfort. For Bruno, Gabi's story is also part of his own life. Their sharing is more than volleyball; it is about life itself. Tokyo, Rio, Nagoya or Istanbul – the cities in these legends' careers are just stops. What remains is how they faced loneliness, fatigue and an unquenchable desire. At a mature age, Gabi no longer fears difficult questions. She moves forward with the belief that the sacrifices of today will nourish much bigger dreams tomorrow.