Globo Esporte features a good story today about Roberto Firmino, a striker who the national team has ‘never seen before’.
We all got used to see extrovert Brazilian stars, who have no problems speaking to the press and love getting the media attention.
However, the Liverpool centre-forward is the opposite of that. Despite his well known smile, Firmino is always avoiding the cameras, and that’s what Globo Esporte writes about.
They’ve spoken to several people to talk about his shyness, and they all seem to agree to one thing: he’s a different person when he’s among friends.
One of those interviewed by the Globo Esporte was his wife Larissa. She claims that even she finds it difficult to read him sometimes.
“Roberto’s way is very difficult to understand, to tell you the truth, because he is always smiling and, at the same time, very quiet. It’s hard to imagine someone like that”, Larissa Pereira told Globo Esporte.
“He’s a person who infects everyone with his joy and has such a big heart that barely fits inside himself. Our life has changed a lot over the years. We found our place in Christ, and from there, priorities were being imposed. Today, far beyond a player, Roberto is an example for our family. Behind that bright smile and shyness in front of the cameras, there’s an incredible human being. Lucky who can get to know him better.”
Esporte Interativo reporter Fred Caldeira, who’s a correspondent in England, also had a little to say about Firmino, claiming he’s been getting more communicative since joining Liverpool.
“I hear that he’s even a reasonably outgoing guy far away with his mates. What actually pulls this trigger is when the camera is on. In the beginning it was reasonably common for him to get lost in reasoning during the same answer.”
“He’d miss a word and became even more nervous, more shy. But this shyness has never been confused with someone who doesn’t want to speak, someone who has a rude posture. But today I already feel him more relaxed, without a doubt.”
Globo Esporte says Firmino is often seen only greeting journalists instead of stopping and speaking to them. They even recall stories from his time in Brazil, when he’d ask his mates to call the stores’ sellers to ask if he could prove new clothes, as he wouldn’t do it on his own.
A goalkeeper from his youth club GE Brasil was also interviewed, and had some fun remembering Firmino’s first press conferences.
“I remember his first press conference. He couldn’t speak properly, all embarrassed, stuttering. It was just “yes”, “no”, “aha”, says Wilson.
