Diego Moreira has given his first extended interview since completing his move to Milan, touching on everything from the size of the challenge ahead to his love of breakdancing and fashion.
Speaking to Milan’s official channels, via CalcioMercato, the Portuguese winger admitted the scale of the move had taken some getting used to.
“I was a bit shocked because playing for Milan means winning trophies and being part of a club with a glorious history, in which so many great champions have played. Milan is a big club with certain expectations and this is the right moment for me to arrive here.”
Asked about his objectives for the season, Moreira pointed straight to collective effort over personal ambition.
“You can’t achieve any objective except through teamwork. I’ll give everything for my team-mates on the pitch and in training, trying to make our fans happy. For me it’s important to be happy and I’ll try to help us reach our objectives, winning the league and everything else that’s possible to win.”
Moreira: ‘I know what I want and where I want to get to’
Introducing himself properly to the Milan support, Moreira was keen to separate his public persona from his professional mentality.
“People see me on social media, there I’m always laughing and dancing, but that doesn’t mean I’m always like that. I know very well when it’s time to work. I know what I want from my life and my career, I know what’s necessary to do to be successful and reach my goals.
“People need to understand that I’m a nice person, but I know when it’s time to focus, I know how to give everything on the pitch for my team-mates and the fans. This will never change, it’s part of me. I know what I want and where I want to get to. I know what I have to do and I’ll do it.
“It depends on yourself: it’s important to find that animal instinct inside yourself that allows you to grow. I have it inside me. If you don’t want something yourself, you can ask anyone for help, but nothing will change.”
Asked to sum himself up in a word, he didn’t overthink it.
“I always smile, I’m always happy and I try to make people cheerful. Joy is the best word to describe myself. It’s the mix of cultures and my origins that makes me the person I am.”
Moreira credits family after Milan switch
Moreira also spoke warmly about the role his family has played in his career, crediting his mother in particular.
“My family always tells me I was born with a ball. I’m happy about that, but neither my father nor my grandfather pushed me to play football. Nobody forced me, nobody told me what to do. The only thing I do is play football and enjoy myself. My father also played football, he had his career and left his mark. My mother is very important to me and has a role in my life that nobody could fill. She gives me everything and has always done everything for me.”
On his interests away from the pitch, he described a childhood passion for dance that nearly took a different path.
“I listen to music at every moment of the day. When I go to training or to a match and also when I’m at home alone. Music is important, it makes me happy. Sometimes I can be sad, but listening to music changes my mood and makes me want to sing and dance. It’s part of me. I love breakdancing a lot. I’ve danced since I was a child, I did it for a long time but then I had to choose between dancing and football and I think I made the right choice. I’m very happy with my choice.
“Milan is the capital of fashion. If I go out for dinner or shopping I like to dress well and feel comfortable and fashionable. For me it’s important to wear the right clothes. I’m a simple guy.”
