– You are currently on loan from Chelsea at Vitesse Arnhem in the Netherlands. How is your season going?
– Yes, all is well. I have discovered a new league, a new culture. I am continuing my adaptation to European football.
– In 2013, you left your former club Fluminense to join Chelsea. Was it easy to make such a big move aged just 18?
– Everything happened naturally. My agent called me to discuss my future. He also wanted to talk to my family. At this meeting, we learned that Chelsea had bought 40% of my rights. He asked me to stay focused and work even harder incase Chelsea one day decided to acquire all of my rights. I started to integrate into the first-team and the club was able to follow my matches regularly. They then decided to make the transfer.
– How long did Chelsea observe you?
– For a long time. They came to all my games for the youth teams.
– Were you received well in London?
Yes, that was great, the other Brazilian helped me a lot. The technical staff and other players worked hard to make me to feel good. I played three games and all went well. This experience was wonderful for me. My goal is to return to Chelsea as soon as possible.
– Which player impressed you the most?
At the time, not all the players were present due to the [2013 FIFA] Confederations Cup. The player who most impressed me was Ramires. He helped me a lot. Every day we spoke together. He’s a great man.
– Have you had the opportunity to talk with José Mourinho?
Mourinho is a very open with everyone. If you do your job well and work hard in training, he will be pleased with you.
– What have you changed the most in your style of play?
The approaches are different. We play a lot more. Fluminense was very physical, there was a lot of positioning. Mourinho likes the games to be very diverse. I thought it would be totally different in Europe. I expected more physical altercations.
– You have not yet played any official matches with Chelsea. They have so far loaned you to Internazionale and Vitesse Arnhem. What do you think about your situation?
I am happy in the Netherlands. At Inter I had less time to play. I play a lot here and I hope it continues like this until the end of the season.
– Are there plans for you to return to Chelsea next season?
I do not know. Nothing is decided yet. That will depend on my form to the end of season. My only goal is currently to finish well in the championship [Eredivisie]. We’ll then see what their decision is.
– What are your short-term goals?
First, I want to give my maximum in training and the matches and have a beautiful end to the season with Vitesse Arnhem. My big goal is to compete in the Olympics [Rio 2016] in Brazil with the Seleção.
– Chelsea face Paris Saint-Germain in the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League Round of 16. What is your prediction?
2-0 to Chelsea. That is a good score [laughs]. Chelsea are the best this season.
