From Brazil to Portugal and Porto to Barcelona, Deco has come a long way in a short time. Already a Nou Camp favourite, the 27-year-old playmaker sat down with FIFAworldcup.com to talk about his background, why he chose the national team colours of Portugal and which players’ skill he most envies.

Tell us about your past. Where did your interest in football stem from?

I grew up in Sao Paolo with my two brothers and three sisters. Everybody plays football in Brazil so it’s pretty difficult to avoid as a child. Some of my cousins played at a high level, but you never know then that you will ever make it and become famous. I was good of course but so were a lot of other boys of my age.

Do you have any role models?

No, not really. I adored Maradona and Zico for their skills and then when you grow up, you admire other footballers but no one in particular.

When did you first realise football might earn you a living?

I guess when I signed my first contract at 15. My parents always insisted that I studied so I always had that to fall back on, but when I signed I had to concentrate all my energies on football. It meant living away from home with other players from the club and took up virtually all of my time. Just like all the other boys I had dreams of being a footballer, but I also had the desire and commitment and that’s probably what helped me most.

How tough was it to leave your homeland?

I was 18 when I left for Portugal. I didn’t want to go but my agent said that I had to do it. I was very young and I just wanted to play football. I didn’t want to think about anything else.

Was it a difficult decision to choose Portugal over Brazil as the nation you would play for?

Extremely. I had been living in Portugal long enough to qualify for citizenship and fans kept coming up to me in the street urging me to do it. I felt as though I should give something back to the country because Portugal had helped form me as a footballer. So yes it was very complicated because your heart belongs to the country were you were born and sooner or later I knew I would have got the chance with Brazil.

It’s not that I‘ve changed - I mean I still have Brazilian blood - but circumstances alter and when I left Brazil my life changed dramatically and you have to adapt. I haven’t forgotten anything about my past and I still love Brazil.

Tell us about the European championships? You didn’t begin the first match but came on at half-time against Greece for Rui Costa.

Right! I had a great time. We went very far. Getting to the final was wonderful and very important to Portugal because, obviously, they were playing at home. The country really got behind us, though losing the final left a slightly bitter taste in our mouths.

There was talk in the press of some difficulties you had with the Portugal-born players – Figo made some comments.

Those problems only really existed in the papers. We got on well as a group.

Outside of football, what do you get up to?

I still have little time and what I do have, I like to spend with my three children. I like to walk, go out and have dinner. Barcelona’s nice because there are lots of different options with a variety of people from all over the world. I love beach football too and play when I can but it’s obviously difficult being at Barca.

Is a footballer’s life as glamorous as many people imagine?

No, not at all. The life of a footballer is hard work. We are always travelling, always on the move or hanging around, waiting to be on the move. We cannot do a lot of things your average person can, skiing for example (smiles).

What do you need to make it as a top footballer?

I’m not sure how much of it is in the mind, but you definitely have to make the right decision at the right time. There is so much sacrifice needed in being a footballer: a lot of players with bags of talent just don’t put in the hard work and they disappear. Others who do not have so much natural skill but dedicate a lot of effort, make it. Nothing beats hard work. You don’t have to be a model but you have to be a model professional. And then on top of that, you need a little bit of luck. But then again, in order to have the luck, you have to be there ready waiting for it. If you are not prepared, it will not happen.

For me your most outstanding ability is your first touch. You know where you and the ball are going before it reaches your foot. There are certain things that are yours and that you cannot teach. You for example can study to become a journalist, but things like this (first touch) are natural that nobody on any training ground will ever be able to show.

As a footballer, are there things that you could do better?

You can always do things better: train more, improve your physical condition, practise shooting or perfect free kicks. However things like first touch, instant passing, knowing where your team-mates are and where they want the ball played are pure instinct.

If you could choose something from another player, what would it be and from whom?

(Thinking…) the strength of Ronaldo, the speed of Henry.(byFIFAworldcup.com).

This interview is related to all the rumors of Deco joining Barcelona or Deportivo from Spain or even being sold to an Italian club or any other big club,these are some words Deco had to say, Deco also talks about his ambition and dream still to play for Brazil.

 

Entrevista Exclusiva com Deco!!(português)

01/10/2002 Ídolo em Portugal e mero desconhecido no Brasil. Este é o paradoxo em que vive Anderson Luís de Sousa, mais conhecido como Deco. O apoiador do F.C. Porto, líder do Campeonato Português, vestiu apenas três vezes a camisa do Corinthians (SP), em 97 quando tinha apenas 19 anos e saiu para brilhar nos campos portugueses. Primeiro, foi contratado pelo Alverca e depois de passar pelo Salgueiros, no ano seguinte, despertou o interesse do Porto, que no início do ano recusou uma proposta de U$ 10 milhões, do La Coruña por seu passe. Com a ausência de Jardel, Deco é o principal jogador do futebol português, o que chamou a atenção de outro gigante espanhol: o Barcelona. Porém, o próprio jogador considera improvável uma saída no momento.

"Tenho mais três anos de contrato com o Porto e acho difícil que seja negociado. Fico lisonjeado em ter meu nome cogitado para grandes equipes do futebol mundial", disse Deco, confessando que há dois anos a equipa espanhola já o vem sondando.

SB: Você acredita estar atravessando a melhor fase de sua carreira?

Deco: Não. Já tive temporadas iguais a esta, mas nunca com uma seqüência tão boa. Esta é a diferença. Tenho conseguido me destacar em jogos consecutivos.

SB: Como fica na sua cabeça ser idolatrado em Portugal e não ser nem reconhecido nas ruas do Brasil?

Deco: É estranho, mas entendo. Saí muito cedo do Brasil e tudo que fiz aqui só serviu para as pessoas me conhecerem um pouco. Se tivesse ficado, teria sido melhor para conseguir uma vaga na Seleção.

SB: Isso quer dizer que você se arrepende?

Deco: Não, pois hoje tenho uma situação que muitos jogadores com passagens pela Seleção não conseguiram. Fiz o caminho contrário da maioria dos jogadores que arrebentam no Brasil, são ídolos, para depois conseguirem uma transferência para um grande clube europeu. Estou me destacando aqui para ser conhecido na minha terra.

SB: Como é para você ser um ídolo?

Deco: Não super valorizo isto. Encaro com naturalidade. Sei que muitas crianças têm em mim uma referência e por isso procuro ter uma boa conduta, mas gosto de ter minha vida sossegada.

SB: Você acredita que este ano o Porto repita o feito do Sporting, que na temporada passada conquistou o Campeonato Português, a Taça de Portugal e a Supertaça?

Deco: Temos tudo para conseguir. O clube apostou em jogadores de equipes menores do próprio Campeonato Português, mas que já tinham uma experiência. Essa experiência aliada à qualidade destes atletas que permaneceram aqui está resultando nos bons resultados.(Marcio Ribeiro)