Moreira: Bayer 04 ‘a good place to grow as a player and as a person’

Afonso Moreira on...

…his first impressions and teammate Tapsoba: I’m really enjoying it here so far. My teammates are great, and the staff and everyone at the club in general have been very nice to me. Our bond with each other—especially within the team—is growing stronger every day. Edmond Tapsoba, for example, has been a huge help to me. He speaks Portuguese very well and is always up for a good time. On top of that, he’s experienced and always engaging with the younger players. He’s a great guy.

…about head coach Carles Martínez: I met him last season during our league games against Toulouse. Even then, it was clear how meticulous and passionate his approach is. He’s also approachable, communicates a lot, takes a genuine interest in you as a player, and wants to help you improve. For a player, it’s important to feel that connection with the coach. I’m very happy and confident, and I’m looking forward to our time together.

…his time at the Sporting CP youth academy that has produced world-class players including Cristiano Ronaldo and Luís Figo: It is indeed one of the best academies in world soccer. I’m very proud to have been there, and one day I’d love to reach the level of such great players as Nuno Mendes (Paris Saint-Germain, ed.) or Rafael Leão (AC Milan, ed.). My idol is, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo, so the inevitable question of ‘Messi or Ronaldo?’ answers itself for me. (He laughs)

…his development over the past few years: Even back at Sporting, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals. When I then moved to Lyon in France, it was still very difficult for me physically at first. That’s when it became clear to me: I have to do a lot more and add extra training sessions to become even stronger physically. That’s why I still put in extra work to this day.

…on his values and work ethic: I think that before you can be a good player, you have to be a good person. That’s very important to me. Discipline is just as important—it’s absolutely essential at this level. My parents instilled that in me, and it’s also part of my Portuguese culture. When you join a big club with lots of fans, there’s naturally always a bit of pressure. Still, I focus on enjoying the game and always taking the field with a smile.

…his playing style and his goal celebration (Goodnight celebration): I’d describe myself as a fast player with the ability to shoot who’s always looking to create chances. I managed to do that pretty well last season. Now I want to help the team here as best I can, too. And as for my goal celebration? That only came about last season. My teammates made a joke out of the fact that I sleep a lot and love to sleep. And that’s how my celebration came about. (He laughs)

…the club, the league, and our goals: Bayer 04 is a great club that won the Bundesliga in impressive fashion two years ago. For young players, this is a great place to develop as both players and people. Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz are two good examples of that. I want to show the world what I can do, and I’m excited to be able to do that here at Leverkusen. I’m fully focused on Bayer 04 and our goals. We want to get the most out of this. We’ll work hard to make that happen. I’m looking forward to the Bundesliga, our stadium, and the atmosphere!