During a meeting with Rossoneri fans at the Flagship Store on Via Dante in Milan, new Milan player Diego Moreira spoke to the press and discussed his first impressions since joining the club, as well as his objectives for the season. Here are his statements.
How are you settling in? Are you ready to play against Juventus after starting on the bench in the first two games?
"The first few days have been magical for me. It is a new experience, and my teammates welcomed me well from the very first day. I have felt at home since I arrived here. It was easy for me to settle in. I am certainly ready to play and I am just waiting for my opportunity. I believe the coach will put me on the pitch at the right time for both him and me," as relayed via Milannews.it.
Where do you prefer to play on the pitch?
"In the way we play, I prefer the right wing. I have spoken to the coach about this and it is the position where I feel most comfortable."
You chose the number 22, the number worn by Kaká... Why? Moreira said:
"Number 7 was not available because Santi Gimenez was still wearing it. I had to choose another number and I picked 22 because that is my current age."
Milan have invested heavily in you. Do you feel that pressure?
"I wouldn't say I feel pressure; rather, I feel honoured. If the club invests a lot of money in certain players, it means they believe in them. Now it is time to show that they were right to believe in me, so I will give everything I have on the pitch for my team and the fans."
You trained wearing Saelemaekers' shirt this summer. Was that a coincidence, or did you already know you would be joining Milan?
"Honestly, it was just a coincidence. He gave me his shirt when we were together with the national team because he is a great friend of mine and I liked the shirt. I took it with me on holiday and wore it. A few weeks later, I signed for Milan, so it was just a coincidence."
Why did you choose Milan rather than other Italian clubs? Moreira replied:
"Milan are one of the biggest clubs in Italy and when a club of this stature shows an interest in you, you don't think twice. When they told me they were interested in me, I immediately thought of Milan's great moments. They are one of the biggest clubs in Italy and I am happy to be here."
Can you tell us about the negotiations? It was a very quick deal...
"Honestly, I don't deal with that. I am a player and my agents took care of it. They did a great job and, as I said, I am very happy. As a player, my only concern is playing football, and that is why I am here."
Is your goal to become the best young player in Serie A?
"My main objective is to win games with the team. My personal goals come afterwards. If you don't achieve the team's objectives, you cannot earn individual recognition either. So I will do my job on the pitch and things will follow naturally."
