Daniel Carvalho has admitted it was his son who convinced him to sign with Botafogo.
The 32 year-old had been without a club since leaving Criciúma in October 2013, but chose to accept Botafogo’s offer of a contract until December due to his seven year old son, Joao Paulo, who he claims has motivated him to return to football.
“It was my son who motivated me. Last year when I wasn"t playing I took him to the Beira-Rio stadium [Estádio José Pinheiro Borda] to watch games involving Internacional," he said during a press conference according to Xinhuanet, as reported by website NDTV Sports.
“He now understands football. When I heard him sing the national anthem at matches it gave me goosebumps. That"s what made me want to come back and play."
“I want to go back onto the pitch and see him supporting me. Nothing makes me happier than to know he is going to watch me play football."
Carvalho is expected to feature when Botafogo host Capivariano in the Copa do Brasil on Wednesday, but his long-term aim will be to help them return to the Brasileirão.
Botafogo were relegated last season after finishing in 19th with 34 points and begin their Campeonato Brasileiro Série B campaign on Sunday 10th May with a trip to newly-promoted Paysandu.
Head Coach René Simões will hope that Carvalho can aid their assault on promotion. The midfielder, who was capped three times by Brazil in 2006, has won major honours with CSKA Moscow, Internacional and Palmeiras earlier in his career, whilst he was also named Footballer of the Year in Russia in 2005.
