00:00When I arrived at Palmeiras, Palmeiras was in the second division, it was in Série B.
00:05And I, coming from Mojimirim, where I built my entire foundation,
00:08So it was a very good time for me to be able to arrive at Palmeiras.
00:14but at the same time I was able to participate from 2013 until I left, which was in 2018,
00:23So, I was able to follow the growth and win titles there at Palmeiras.
00:31which was very important for my career, for sure.
00:35It's been a long time since I left Brazil, but at the same time I feel like I haven't closed the cycle yet.
00:40he knows?
00:41I still feel that longing to play in Brazil again.
00:45I knocked on Scolari's door back when he was the coach of Palmeiras.
00:49And I spoke to him openly, I said, 'I am, I have a proposal,'
00:54And he spoke like that, even with his accent, you know,
00:58Hey kid, I can't promise you anything, but I really like your work.
01:04I really like your potential, but here at Palmeiras I can't tell you much.
01:13whether you're going to play, whether you're not going to play, and so on.
01:15I said, "No, professor, I completely understand your position."
01:18But I think it's my time to leave, to have this opportunity in Japanese football.
01:26So, Scolari was very clear with me, thinking a lot about my family,
01:32I wanted to have children, so we decided to move a little closer to Brazil.
01:41So, it all added up a lot to see the growth of the League, of MLS, along with this more family-oriented aspect.
01:53That's when I talked to my wife, and we decided...
01:58I could see that she was also very happy to have this opportunity to come here.
02:03I arrived and it grew a lot, it grew a lot, every year, you can see that they want it and they have the possibility.
02:13to be one of the world's powers, for sure, from when I arrived until now,
02:19Tremendous growth, and I'm sure it will continue to grow.
02:23Because especially now, with more people coming here to watch this World Cup,
02:28You can see that the people here are realizing how big football can become here, you know?
02:37To play a game there at Allianz Parque, like I did in the Libertadores Cup,
02:42With a full stadium, it's sensational, it's a good kind of pressure, you know?
02:50You can feel the crowd there, like the 12th player, shouting and supporting the whole time.
02:56So, I lived, I am living, I lived when I was in Japan, I am living...
03:03I've been to a Brooklyn Nets and a Knicks basketball game, I've been to a baseball game,
03:11I'm still going to play, I hope, I'm trying to go to every sport possible.
03:18I'm taking advantage of this opportunity, because I don't know how long I'll be here; my contract ends at the end of the year.
03:22So, I'm going to try to make the most of this year so I can follow all the teams.
03:27all the games and having that experience, you know, because here it's not just about going there to watch the game,
03:32Here they give you the experience of being there, which would be like marking it a few years ago.
03:40There in Barcelona, you have to be switched on all the time, you have to stay close.
03:46You can't give him any space, because any little bit of space, and he'll make things happen.
03:52So, it's not easy, but at the same time I say it's rewarding to know that I'm in a league.
03:58It gives me the opportunity to play against great players like him; he often pulls off plays that are out of reach.
04:07He's thinking three times ahead, you know, so you have to, you can't mark him.
04:12thinking that he's going to play simple, often simple, which for many players,
04:18For him, his simplicity is often extraordinary, you know, it seems very easy, how he controls it, how he spins it,
04:28So, for many players, I say this would be extraordinary.
04:34But for him, he does it, it seems very simple, you know, so it's unusual, it's there, you can understand it.
04:43why
04:43which is so great and for all that it has achieved and continues to achieve to this day.
04:49I had the opportunity to go and watch some games at the Club World Cup.
04:55I've been to a few World Cup games too, and I see, of course, there are a lot more people here, right?
05:03from other countries,
05:04So this brings greater visibility to football, and I do see this in a positive light.
05:14I think, no, I hope, and I'm almost certain that this will bring much more visibility.
05:20Not just for MLS, I'll never say, I'll never go back to Brazil to play, you know,
05:25So, it's up in the air; only God knows what will happen tomorrow.
05:31So I'll continue working and doing my best here for the New York City team.
05:39And let's see what happens next year.
05:44Well, as for the defenders, I liked them, I watched Maldini playing a lot.
05:49But I also like to talk, not just to talk to people from outside Brazil,
05:53But I'm saying this: there's a guy I really like, whose style I...
05:57The playing style, how they play, their leadership role, so, I'm talking about...
06:02Maldini was one of the guys I saw a lot, of course, I saw Lúcio, I played with Lúcio,
06:06So, back when I was at Palmeiras, I saw what it was like, so, they are players,
06:12There are several, man, but I'd say it like this, today I would say it like this:
06:15Regarding the playing style that best matches my own, I would say Thiago Silva.
06:19Palmeiras fans are different, even when I give an example like this,
06:23I went to the Club World Cup, man, I went to show my daughter where I had played and everything.
06:29It's different, it's a passion, and I say that it was a great pleasure to have played football there.
06:39Man, I still have that burning desire to one day have the opportunity to play in Europe.
06:45So, let's go, let's go, let's go.
