Luiz Adriano: I wouldn’t mind staying at Shakhtar

12-05-15 13:55:54

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The latest issue of Sehodnya newspaper is out now, in which the Shakhtar forward answered questions from the editorial office. We bring you the most interesting excerpts from the interview.

About his stay in Kyiv

- Well, everything is fine. In practical terms, for me the stay in Kyiv is not very different from what I had in Donetsk. I rent a flat in a new residential complex, we are neighbours with Taison, Marlos, Teixeira, Nem and Dentinho. My wife Camilla and daughter Alicia are constantly here with me. Sometimes, someone from the relatives comes to visit us. Right now, for example, we host my father and my uncle with his wife. A noticeably different feature of Kyiv is that it has a busier traffic and, consequently, there are a lot more traffic jams on the roads here.

About Donetsk

- There remain the most important and necessary things for me to do a good job: our home stadium and our fans, whom we are missing very much.

About Ukraine

- I’ve got used to absolutely everything here, even to snow and frost. (Smiles.) The Ukrainian food has long been no problem for me either. And what I really enjoy is that your people gave me a very warm reception here, and for many of them I am just like a local.

About his relations with the compatriots at Shakhtar

- There are many situations, when my fellow countrymen come to me for advice or assistance. For example, when they need to talk personally with Mister, they come to me first, and I am bringing them to the coach then, or pass their request to him. Or vice versa, if someone from the club's staff wants to talk with someone from the Brazilians, they also ask me for assistance, and I just bring them together. Sometimes, I even have to act as a judge in certain disputes between my fellow countrymen. They listen to my opinion, and my word, as a rule, turns out to be decisive. Besides, quite often, especially before some serious match, Mister, after the set-up meeting for the entire team, comes to me individually and says: “Luiz, please explain to your guys once again how important is the game we are facing.”

About the tour of Brazil

- I remember how they received us, how the fans reacted - not only to the Brazilian players, but to the whole team in general. Well, of course, we became even more famous at home thanks to the visit. It was very cool in every way – it was good for the club image and we were very pleased. In addition, many of us have had the opportunity to play against their former teams at their former stadium. In Porto Alegre, I had a lot of pleasant and unexpected encounters with the people who remember me owing to our joint work at Internacional. Some of them just came to the dressing room to say hello. I was particularly happy to see the second goalkeeper of Inter Muriel - we had learned football together starting from the school for children, we also shared a great friendship in the youth. Plus Torcida in Porto Alegre have not forgotten me – they received me very well.

About music in Brazil national team

- In the Selecao, we constantly listen to music, we have audio systems installed in the dressing room and in the bus. Usually, Marcelo, Thiago Silva and Neymar are responsible for the repertoir. Willian plays better than the rest, he is a well-known drummer. (Laughs.)

About the interest on the part of Roma

- Yes, they really raised this topic. But the situation had no continuation. The representatives of Roma got in touch with my agents, they talked, but it was, so to speak, probing the soil. It never proceeded to any financial proposals.

About the boots in which you repeated Lionel Messi’s record

- I do not keep them at home, I passed them along with my shirt to the museum of Shakhtar.

About his recent birthday party

- I spent it at home together with the beloved girls: my wife and my daughter. We had a big cake, colourful balloons – everything the homely way.

On the continuation of his career

- I would not mind staying at Shakhtar. My family is also happy with everything in Ukraine. But I cannot tell you anything about the future with confidence. Nobody knows what can happen. But my agent already negotiates with the club management.

FC Shakhtar