Luiz with fruit filling

07-01-15 09:00:08

Text SizePrintSend

The latest edition of Shakhtar magazine is out. We bring you an exclusive interview with one of the main characters of the issue - Luiz Adriano.

Smiling and laughing Luiz Adriano broke records to put himself on the map in Europe and in Brazil. Shakhtar’s forward boldly and confidently burst into the number of the most prominent players of the two continents, simultaneously playing drums and dancing samba. That’s what he is like, the hero of the season!

Appetite during the match

- Luiz, this year you became in Ukraine almost a national hero. In Europe and Brazil your name is also in the spotlight. Did the fame wake any new feelings in you?
- What do I feel? Great happiness and desire to continue in the same spirit! Indeed, this season is very important for me. I was able to break many records, finally showed who I am and what I represent. I seriously helped our team. Therefore, I grew up mentally, psychologically, to continue to play at the same level.

- What happened to you in the games against BATE? You were on fire. And remained in that state!
- It is a fruit that appeared after seven and a half years at Shakhtar. Well, you know: it is brewing, brewing...

- So now Luiz Adriano is a fruit, isn’t he?
- Yes I am. And I could deliver versus any team. But I am very happy that it happened in the Champions League.

- But there must have been some reason!
- I cannot explain, I just do not know. They say nothing happens just like that. But I once again would like to draw attention to the fact that it happened in the Champions League matches. Not just in the game with the usual team. So now the most important thing is do not stop.

- During these two matches there was an impression that you were trying to make up for all previous failures in the matches against BATE, for all that you were blamed for before. Is it true?
- No! It was not revenge. One hundred percent! This was the result of hard work. Just burst. I didn’t avenge anyone for recent games, because every game has its own story. We go out on the field and do not remember what was before. One needs to think about the current game, being super concentrated now.

- Appetite comes with eating. Do you like the feeling of a footballer who always scores?
- Yes, the situation is similar. When a football player scores one goal - this is when the appetite comes, and I want to score the second, third, fourth! It is a good proverb that captures the essence.

- You're on a wave of public attention. Naturally, there will be a lot of different people wanting to bring Luiz Adriano to other clubs and earn you money. Are you ready for attacks from all sorts of agents and intermediaries?
- Well, I have my agent. And he has already warned me: "Luiz, look, now there will be a pile proposals for you, they will try to bring you to another club”. But I'm not going to leave. I have always said and will repeat! I have not changed my opinion at all. Shakhtar are a club that I love and which loves me. They treat my family very well. We were provided with everything we need. Therefore, I am not going to leave.

Songs and poker

- You first were called up by the Brazil national team, which you had dreamed of for many years. What are the first impressions of the situation there, inside Selecao?
- Everything was cool. First impressions are of course unforgettable! I arrived there and saw how it works. I have seen all the people! I have already known some people, and I have also met others. Overall, I enjoyed it. I was very well received. The guys helped throughout the days that I spent there. I have also managed to learn many things. I hope to go back again and again.

- What exactly were you able to learn from such experienced players?
- Two very different things. Starting with football and finishing with a life. For example, in training I learned to score at a turn. Yes, I could do it at Shakhtar, but the team-mates helped me improve my skills. And from personal... Well, for example, I learned to play poker.

- Oh, that's what they do in the Brazilian national team!
- Not always, but when there is free time, the guys play.

- Luiz, you are fond of music, you play different instruments. Have you made your team-mates in the national team do that? Or all of them like that?
- Absolutely everyone there listens to music! So I was there among my people. (Laughs.) There's loud music always playing in the dressing room. Be it a gym, or a bus, it is all the same. This is Brazil! These are Brazilians! This is a completely different mentality. At Shakhtar, it is different. Mister does not like this before the match, it is better to be concentrated and drive in silence.

- When are you more excited when you score a crazy number of goals in the Champions League for the first time or when you are called up to the national team? What is emotionally stronger? Were you able to sleep after any of these events?
- To be honest, these are two completely different things, which made me very happy. I scored five goals in the Champions League. To me this has never happened before - not in official games, friendlies, or just in the matches with friends in Porto Alegre. Scoring five goals in the Champions League was really cool. I slept in both cases. But a call-up to Brazil became the accomplishment of dreams. It was the purpose of my life. I wanted to achieve it at least once. Later we celebrated this event, and then I slept. It took a couple of days before I realized what had happened.

- And how did you celebrate it, if not secret?
- In the family circle. I first celebrated it with my wife and daughter. The kid ran around the apartment in the Brazil shirt and with balloons! We were all very happy. And then my wife and I went for dinner.

Bald, old, but at Shakhtar!

- You're now so kind, calm, smiling. And then you go out on the field and begin mercilessly score goals versus opponents. How do you disconnect a football player in you in real life and vice versa?
- Football is a ring in which each must show that he is stronger than the opponent. Therefore, there I change dramatically, frighten the opponents, show that I'm better, I want to win. We all play for a reason, but for the sake of victory. I am not always aggressive on the pitch. For example, when I take a penalty, I am quite calm! But when any problems happen on the field and there’s a need to swear - I do it, fight for what belongs to me. And when I go out of the dressing room, I change. Now we are sitting, socializing and I am calm. Why shout, swear? On the contrary, we all need to smile, because everything is good.

- You said that your cherished dream was a call-up to the national team of Brazil. It is true. Now what? What's next?
- Yes, it came true one time. But now we need to continue in the same spirit and leave some trace in the history of the Brazilian national team. So I will continue to work! Scoring a certain number of goals at Shakhtar, I overtook Vorobey. But that does not mean that I will stop at this. No, I'll go ahead and score more and more to move away from my pursuers.

- You don’t seem to have any superstitions, except for details. Have you become more superstitious once your dreams came true?
- I stayed the same at all. The only thing is that I have become more experienced. When scoring, I dedicate goals to my wife and child, friends when they ask. In general, I keep my feet on the ground!

- How did parents, friends in Brazil respond to your double success? Those, who are far away, and not in Ukraine.
- The first thing that they made in Brazil – was an entertaining party. Everyone congratulated me, phoned. I’ll explain a little a story of my life. People believe in me. I remember when I still played for Internationale, we played in Japan and then became champions. I left my mark in the history of this club. Then I came to Shakhtar and broke the Vorobey record, scored five goals in the Champions League, and is remembered here. Now I'm in the team, in front of me there’s no choice but to leave a mark in Brazil. People congratulated me, they believe in me, I am very grateful to them for that.

- Has the number of fans increased due to surging fame? Can you resist the girls and stay loyal to your girlfriend, the mother of your daughter? You’re not married to her by the way!
- It is hard to resist beautiful girls and not easy to choose. So many of them around: white, brown, black, blue, green, blonde, brunette, redhead, thick, thin - for every taste and color! But the most important thing is to find a woman who will fill your heart with what others could not.

- Then why are you still not officially married?
- In Brazil, there is a saying: “Someone who lives well is married”. And I live well, so we can say that I am married, albeit unofficially.

- Are you planning to get married in the future?
- Yes I am. Let's hope that this will happen in the middle of next year.

- You have said that you dream about a son...
- We try to do every night! (Laughs.)

- You used to be frequently changing your hairstyle, and now you have stopped. Does this mean that you have grown up and found your image and yourself?
- Before I would be bald and have little pigtails, then again shaved bald. I’ll still have lush hair, but in general, I like to be bald.

- How do you see yourself in 10 years? And where?
- Playing for Shakhtar. Here I will play my last match. I'll be old and bald! (Laughs.)

Shakhtar magazine