Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Palacios: ‘Ready to give my all again and get stuck in’.

Pala, the preseason starts in Brazil this year – in the neighbouring country to your homeland of Argentina. Is it a special start for you?

Palacios: It's really good for me for several reasons. On the one hand, I like the climate and I’m on my home continent, and on the other I was able to travel here straight from Argentina and that obviously made the start easier for me, and I had a day more with my family.

Brazil is a special country for you given your sporting CV: You won the Copa América with Argentina here in Rio in 2021 at the Maracanã. What emotions do you feel on your return to Rio?

Palacios: Brazil is a wonderful land with beautiful beaches and a great culture. I've often been here with the national team and have experienced very special moments. Of course, they will stay with me forever. But now I'm here longer for the first time with my club and it's an experience I'm enjoying.

Your path has also crossed with Flamengo. In 2019 with River Plate you lost 2-1 to the team from Rio in the final of the Copa Libertadores thanks to two late goals. Back then did you imagine you would ever train at the Flamengo ground?

Palacios: No, I didn't think that. But I'm also trying to put aside those memories of Flamengo. I'm here with Bayer 04 now and the 2019 final is another story. Of course, it really hurt back then but now it's done and dusted and I'm looking forwards.

Tonight you will watch the legendary FlaFlu derby, Flamengo versus Fluminense. You've picked up experience in local clashes at River Plate and at Leverkusen and watched games with the fans in Buenos Aires. What are you expecting at the Maracanã this evening?

Palacios: You could see how strong Brazilian teams are at the Club World Cup – and the atmosphere their fans generate. They filled the stadiums and were very emotional. South American fans are generally very passionate and they follow their teams everywhere. And, of course, Flamengo and Fluminense are two big and well-known clubs on the world stage and they have lots of fans.

Both play their home games at the Maracanã. How do you rate the stadium?

Palacios: It's a stadium with a big history and is one of the most important arenas in world football. I had the fortune to play in and win the Copa América final here in 2021. It was one of the biggest moments in my career and that's why I have very good memories of the Maracanã. But here at the training camp I'm not really looking back but instead focusing on my work with Bayer 04.

It was an eventful summer in terms of transfers. The Werkself have a new look, a lot of new players have arrived and there are also new coaching staff. What's your assessment of the coming season and what do you believe you can achieve?

Palacios: There's been lots of changes, including in key positions. But Bayer 04 is a club that brings through great players and sometimes sells them to bring in new talent. That way we've written history here, won trophies and taken the club to a new level. We are ready for the preseason, have a good team and we will prepare ourselves as best as possible for the new campaign to be as successful as possible too.

Some of the key players left the club last season. You are a World Cup winner, key performer for years and now very experienced. Are you looking for a changed, perhaps more vocal role within the team?

Palacios: I've been here for five and a half years and I will carry on behaving exactly as I've always behaved and approach things in exactly the same way: work hard, be modest, listen and, above all, help the young players when necessary – on and off the pitch. I will pass on my experience, always be available to talk to and lead the way on the pitch, giving everything and trying to produce the best possible outcome.

How do you feel generally? Have you recharged your batteries over the summer break?

Palacios: The break really did me good as I haven't had a real holiday for a long time due to winning trophies with Bayer 04, the World Cup and the Copa América. Therefore, I've really enjoyed the time off, have rested, spent a lot of time with the family and met friends. I’ve simply done what the body and spirit needs. With time you want to do what you love again and you start to miss football. Therefore, I'm happy the preseason has started. I feel good and I'm ready to give my all again and get stuck in.