Portuguese newspaper O Jogo features on their front page today an interview they’ve done with Reading F.C. full-back Tomás Esteves.
Loaned by Porto to the Royals until the end of the season, the 19-year-old talked about how things have been going for him in the Championship and his future following his spell at Madejski Stadium.
“Everything is possible. We will enter the final stretch. Five games to go. The goal is to stay in the top six and then face the play-offs and try to rise to the Premier League,” Tomás Esteves told O Jogo.
Despite having ups and downs during the season, Esteves has made 27 appearances for Reading so far.
He claims that even though he had other offers, his main objective was indeed to find a place where he could have enough matches.
“There were other possibilities, but I thought this was the best way to have more playing time and to make me grow.”
Quizzed if he’s doing the pre-season with Porto’s squad, Esteves said: “What I do know is that my connection with Reading ends at the end of this season and that, afterwards, I return to Portugal, but I don’t know what will happen. It’s not for me to decide whether or not to stay in the squad. It’s up to me to give my best at Reading, make as many games as possible and have good performances”.
He was also quizzed if the objective is to return and stay at Porto this time.
“Yes, sure. My dream is to play at FC Porto. Of course I already played, but I want to play more regularly and I have more dreams to fulfil at FC Porto. It’s my heart club and that’s where I want to play.”
Even though the Dragons have been loaning out some players with clauses for permanent moves, that hasn’t been this case with Reading, and Esteves takes it as a good sign from his club.
“Yes, I believe it is a sign of confidence. It made me even more motivated, because I feel like they want me at the club. It’s a source of pride.”
So in case there are any Reading fans who would like to continue having Esteves at the club, it seems clear that his wish isn’t to stay.
