After Brazil call-up, Wendell says: ‘People didn’t believe I’d become a footballer’

  Following his good performances for German side Bayer Leverkusen, left-back Wendell was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time by coach Tite on Monday. The former Grêmio player, who replaces the injured Marcelo, has participated in friendly matches of Brazil’s U23 side, but missed the Olympic Games in Rio de […]
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sambafoot_admin
2016-09-30 06:54:00

 

Following his good performances for German side Bayer Leverkusen, left-back Wendell was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time by coach Tite on Monday.
The former Grêmio player, who replaces the injured Marcelo, has participated in friendly matches of Brazil"s U23 side, but missed the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “One day I"m going to the Seleção, you"ll see!" – are the words repeated by Wendell since his days at Grêmio. It came true only three years after his debut in the professional team of Grêmio. In an exclusive interview with UOL Esporte, Wendell talked about the expectations for representing the national team, about the style on the field that earned him a call up, and underlined the special moment in his career. He said: “People did not believe that I would become a football player because of my physique. They said that my mother was spending money for nothing. She gave me a lot of strength and I got here, thanks to her."
“I played a little in school in Camaçari [Bahia] and scouts saw me and I went to Iraty [in Paraná] at the age of 14," said Wendell, who left his parents and four brothers to fulfill a dream. In addition to Iraty, he also played for Londrina and Paraná before arriving at Grêmio.
The 23-year-old said he received a call from Tite before the official announcement. Wendell sees Tite as the biggest and best coach of Brazil, and cited his success at Corinthians in recent years. He also said that the coach can take the national team back to the old days. He added: “Tite phoned me before and said he would pick me. He is very friendly. The way he talks makes me feel safe, I felt embraced. Corinthians turned into an even bigger giant after he took over. I"ll learn a lot. I saw the two games [in the World Cup qualifiers] ​​here in Germany. Brazil has returned to Brazil with Tite. We know that the work is well done. He has many ideas. The Seleção has the best coach and will arrive well in the World Cup."
One of the biggest references for Wendell, however, plays for Palmeiras and will hang his boots at the end of the year. After being promoted to the professional squad of Grêmio in 2013, Wendell has the constant support of his friend, and Palmeiras left-back Zé Roberto. Three years ago, the two were teammates at Grêmio. He said: “I"m very friendly with him. I was already a fan of his before and even more now."
“I"m an attacking full-back who likes to attack. I learned a lot to score more in recent years. I have a lot to learn, but I"m almost complete in this position. Coming to Europe young makes you learn faster, to have more tactical knowledge faster. This also happens in Brazil, but more slowly. I had to learn fast, because otherwise we can"t play here. I give a lot in the matches, I do everything well and play like it"s the last game of my life. Nothing more, just take the field with that spirit."
His emergence in Germany gave rise to some speculation in the last transfer window. A part of the European press had reported the interest of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but his intention, however, is to stay. Wendell said: “I"m feeling increasingly incorporated into the country. Stadiums always full, I"m learning a lot. I have no reason to change now and I just renewed my contract [until the end of 2021]. But I"m happy with it."

Following his good performances for German side Bayer Leverkusen, left-back Wendell was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time by coach Tite on Monday.

The former Grêmio player, who replaces the injured Marcelo, has participated in friendly matches of Brazil"s U23 side, but missed the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. “One day I"m going to the Seleção, you"ll see!" – are the words repeated by Wendell since his days at Grêmio. It came true only three years after his debut in the professional team of Grêmio. In an exclusive interview with UOL Esporte, Wendell talked about the expectations for representing the national team, about the style on the field that earned him a call up, and underlined the special moment in his career. He said: “People did not believe that I would become a football player because of my physique. They said that my mother was spending money for nothing. She gave me a lot of strength and I got here, thanks to her."

“I played a little in school in Camaçari [Bahia] and scouts saw me and I went to Iraty [in Paraná] at the age of 14," said Wendell, who left his parents and four brothers to fulfill a dream. In addition to Iraty, he also played for Londrina and Paraná before arriving at Grêmio.

The 23-year-old said he received a call from Tite before the official announcement. Wendell sees Tite as the biggest and best coach of Brazil, and cited his success at Corinthians in recent years. He also said that the coach can take the national team back to the old days. He added: “Tite phoned me before and said he would pick me. He is very friendly. The way he talks makes me feel safe, I felt embraced. Corinthians turned into an even bigger giant after he took over. I"ll learn a lot. I saw the two games [in the World Cup qualifiers] ​​here in Germany. Brazil has returned to Brazil with Tite. We know that the work is well done. He has many ideas. The Seleção has the best coach and will arrive well in the World Cup."

One of the biggest references for Wendell, however, plays for Palmeiras and will hang his boots at the end of the year. After being promoted to the professional squad of Grêmio in 2013, Wendell has the constant support of his friend, and Palmeiras left-back Zé Roberto. Three years ago, the two were teammates at Grêmio. He said: “I"m very friendly with him. I was already a fan of his before and even more now."

“I"m an attacking full-back who likes to attack. I learned a lot to score more in recent years. I have a lot to learn, but I"m almost complete in this position. Coming to Europe young makes you learn faster, to have more tactical knowledge faster. This also happens in Brazil, but more slowly. I had to learn fast, because otherwise we can"t play here. I give a lot in the matches, I do everything well and play like it"s the last game of my life. Nothing more, just take the field with that spirit."

His emergence in Germany gave rise to some speculation in the last transfer window. A part of the European press had reported the interest of Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain but his intention, however, is to stay. Wendell said: “I"m feeling increasingly incorporated into the country. Stadiums always full, I"m learning a lot. I have no reason to change now and I just renewed my contract [until the end of 2021]. But I"m happy with it."