Rui Fonte’s transfer to Fulham was not only a surprise for fans. The player himself didn’t expect it to happen so fast, as revealed in an interview with Portuguese newspaper O Jogo this weekend.
The striker was living a great time at Braga, where he spent two seasons and scored 25 goals. With the armbrand and an important squad role, the player knew there were clubs from abroad interested in him, but thought it wouldn’t be more than rumours.
“It was all very fast. They had barely told me of this possibility, but from one moment to the other the agreement was reached. One weekend I was playing for Braga, the next I was already representing Fulham,” Fonte told O Jogo.
The newspaper heard something about tears in the dressing room the day he left the club, and asked the striker if it’s true, and how hard the farewell was.
“It was difficult. How can I explain this… It happened very quickly and I did not have time to prepare. Although there were only two years in Braga, they were very intense. It was difficult to handle the farewell.
“The way I was welcomed, the Portuguese Cup, the difficult season that followed, to have been named captain… It was difficult for me to leave everything behind.”
Quizzed about what makes a player change a big Portuguese club such as Braga for a Championship side like Fulham, he replied: “It’s a club with excellent conditions, was recently bought by an American group and there is the expectation of going up directly to the Premier League.
“I can’t be hypocritical and the financial aspect was also important, but being close to the Premier League was the great incentive.”
On the chances to get to the national team whilst with Fulham, Fonte said: “I think it looks exactly the same. In fact, we still have the example of Nélson Oliveira. I just have to keep doing my job well.”
Fonte has already madetwo appearances for Fulham. He made his debut on a 1-0 home loss against Sheffield Wednesday, and then played an away match against Ipswich Town, in which he scored in a 2-0 win.
