Jake (UK): Have you ever watched a match that really inspired you?
“So, Jake, there are a lot of matches I think, if you watch, in the world of football, the final of the Champions League, of the Euros or the World Cups, it’s difficult to choose one. But I think, for me, as a Portuguese, the final of the 2016 Euros is an inspiration for every kid. At that moment, I was not a kid anymore but the inspiration for every Portuguese player, for example, because we’d never won anything in the national team. We arrived at that moment against every chance to win that Euros so, for me, as a Portuguese, I’m really proud of that and it’s one of the games I remember more. And, of course, I think personally, the cup I won with Sporting means a lot for me. What we went through the year before, with everything that happened with us, the problems we had in the club, we lost that final because I think also because of a lot of those problems. One year later, with all those problems still there, the fight we have honestly for the team and the inspiration we had in that season, that game marks the best season of my career because of everything we passed as a team in that whole year.”
Jassan (UK): Have you had the chance to speak with Sir Alex Ferguson? If so, what did he say to you?
“So, Jassan, that is one of my biggest regrets in the club until now because I met him already but never had the chance to speak with him like I would like to do. For me, growing up and seeing the club, being a fan of the club and seeing the development of the team, if you watched in the past I think everyone who watched Manchester United remembers Sir Alex. I would like to have a conversation with him and understand, from his point of view, what he thinks about me and what I can improve or still improve in my game to be better.”
Dylan (Ireland): If you could steal one quality from another team-mate, what would you pick?
“Dylan, I don’t know honestly as we have so many qualities in the team. I think I’m not the slowest player in the world but if I would have the pace of Rashy, honestly, I was Ballon d’Or already. With the pace he has, oh my God, he’s unbelievable. It’s incredible the way he is and, when I talk about pace, it’s about running with the ball and without the ball, and, at the same time, the pace in his feet. The quality he has, the moves he has and the agility he has to come away from difficult situations. It’s unbelievable.”
Yuvraj (India): Will you be able to win the Ballon d’Or one day and who do you think will win it this year?
“So Yuvraj, I honestly don’t look a lot for the Ballon d’Or. I think to arrive at that point, to be a Ballon d’Or player, you need to do much, much more and, for me, football is more than individual trophies. And I’m not saying I don’t want to be a Ballon d’Or [winner], everyone wants to be a Ballon d’Or [winner]. Since you grow up from the time you finish your career, you want to be [it] but, honestly, for me, I’m now focused on getting trophies for the team. I think football is about that. Of course, the individual trophies are important for every player, for the confidence and everything. For this season, honestly it’s difficult to choose because, for me, at the time you have Messi and Ronaldo still playing, you have to put them on a rung and nobody I think is still close to those two. I think, for the future, we’re seeing a lot of players coming out but being able to do that for 15 years will be difficult, I think, like Cristiano and Messi did it.”
Chimwemwe Linda (Malawi): Who is the most fashionable player in the dressing room? Who has the best drip?
“Oh, so that one is difficult, honestly, because we have different swags in the team. Some ones are good but I would say every swag is good but everyone has his own way to dress. I’m not that kind of person to say, oh he’s not dressing well, or that kind of one is better than the other one, because everyone has their own fashion. Of course, if we look in the dressing room, we have Paul who has that fashion, he likes that different fashion, more the American style, you can say. Juan, for example, and Nema are classic ones; Edi Cavani too. The classic fashion, all-time classic, all clean, all perfect, connecting everything. After, you have, I don’t know, but Alex Telles likes to dress different, also some different stuff, you see his haircut has always to be perfect. Fred is out of this list, for sure, he can’t be in any list, but I think those ones who care more with what people say or will say about their fashion.”
