Brazilian outlet Globo Esporte today features a long interview with Tottenham Hotspur striker Carlos Vinícius.
The story recalls the player’s entire career, from the time he was a central defender at Santos, to the point he nearly quit football, and finally to the moment when he found his success in Portugal.
Loaned by Benfica to Spurs until the end of the season, Carlos Vinícius has the chance to stay in London in case José Mourinho’s side trigger the buying option of €45m. He’s been trying to convince the club with 10 goals and three assists in 21 appearances so far.
And when speaking to Globo Esporte, the 25-year-old only had good things to talk about Tottenham. Starting with manager José Mourinho, who he was asked to compare with his former boss Jorge Jesus.
“Each has their qualities, they are great coaches. It was an honour to have had the opportunity to work with these two,” Carlos Vinícius told Globo Esporte.
“My time with Jorge Jesus was very little. We did a pre-season and two games. But soon you understand that Jorge Jesus wasn’t a champion as he was in Brazil for nothing. On the other hand, I have Mourinho who was champion of everything, and he did what he did for football. It’s not for me to say who is the best.
“He knows how to deal with the locker room, knows what the player likes, knows how to take us. And, if the locker room has a good environment, if we are happy, things will flow on the pitch. And he knows that this is important. Mourinho is always chatting, he asks every day how we are doing, how our family is doing. He cares.”
Speaking of Lucas Moura, the best friend he has at Tottenham, the striker highlights the importance his compatriot has had since his arrival in England.
“Lucas Moura was a gift from God in my life. There are people who joke that where Lucas is, I am too (laughs). When I arrived in London, I stayed at the club hotel for the first three days and then Lucas invited us to stay at his house. We stayed there until I got my house ready. He and his wife treated us very well. He’s my translator, teacher, friend, everything. Around here, he’s the one who rescues me.”
Carlos Vinícius also talked about the difficulty of fighting for a position with Spurs star Harry Kane.
“Kane is a great striker, a great person. He’s always around. And I try to analyse what he does in training, in games, the way he positions himself. I’m there near one of the three greatest strikers in the world. And, if it’s to play five minutes, I will enjoy those five minutes. If I play 90 minutes, I will enjoy it as well. Because I can’t be in the biggest league in the world, be in one of the biggest clubs in the world, and be sad because I didn’t play.”
