Jhon Arias: “None of Us Want This Story to End Here”

In an interview with AFP, Colombian forward Jhon Arias made it clear: Fluminense isn’t done yet. The 27-year-old has been one of the standout figures of the Club World Cup and insists the team still has big ambitions. “None of us want this story to end here,” he said, looking ahead to their quarterfinal match against Saudi giants Al Hilal.

Arias has already been named Man of the Match in three of Flu’s four games, including their shocking win over Inter Milan. Despite his growing stardom, he remains humble. “I don’t get carried away by praise,” he noted, adding that individual recognition is just a reflection of the team’s work.

He also addressed a viral nickname that has followed him: “I don’t like being called the Colombian Pelé. It makes me uncomfortable. Pelé is a global icon. I’m nowhere near that level.”

Though his dream of playing in Europe is still alive, Arias stressed that his focus remains on the tournament at hand. With a clear sense of purpose and grounded attitude, he’s become a symbol of Fluminense’s determined campaign.

A fan of Gabriel García Márquez’s One Hundred Years of Solitude, Arias admitted that for fans, the team’s journey might feel like “magical realism.” But within the squad, it’s about hard work and belief. “We knew we had the tools to compete. This isn’t a fluke.”