He had only two clubs in his life, and in the eighth season in SC Braga he plays with the status of “Immunity”. Born in Brazil, naturalized Portuguese, Mateus dreams of Celesao, believes in the Portuguese Cup star and, one day, winning the national title. The campaign started off shaky, but the goalkeeper promises a great finish.
– In his career there were only two clubs: America Mineiro and Braga. If in 2014, when you arrived in Portugal, you were told that you would enter the eighth season, what would you think?
– It’s not just about staying at the club for eight years. I built my family here, I got married there, I had children, and soon there will be a third one. If they had told me this at that time, I would not have believed it, but this is where I built my career and life, and this is where I am happy. In the club, in the city and outside the city, because I am Portuguese.
– You thought I would stay here for two or three seasons and then move to another club?
– No. I have always fulfilled my contracts, this was the case in America, and at SC Braga I was thinking about getting a contract. In Brazil, the main goalkeepers spend a lot of time in clubs and I have always wanted to do that in my career: represent several clubs but have good continuity and write history.
“But eight seasons is a long time. Is it just because you are attached to the club and the city?
– I feel that the club has grown, developed, and I followed this rise. Time, after all, flies by very quickly. In Portugal, clubs have players aged 13 and over. Thiago Sa is here, Luizao at Benfica. There are links that have made a name and a career in the same club.
– Regarding the start of the season of SC Braga with unstable results, do you agree that it did not live up to the expectations of the fans?
– Not only from the fans, but also from ours. However, we reacted and I think we have a very good season and we will definitely have a great championship. This is just the beginning, we finished well last season. This season we have changed the chip, this is a new process, new players have come, but I think we will have a great season too.
– Expectations from SC Braga are always high, the time for minimum goals has long passed. When Antonio Salvador says Carlos Carvalyal will stay for the rest of the season, does that message have more power inside or outside the resort?
– Our trust is the same, we understand the process through which we go, that the results are not what we wanted or what we wanted, but we trust the work of the master and all the staff. We have a quality team, and when the process is complete, we will bring a lot of joy to this city.
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