Bournemouth forward Rayan has opened up further on the whirlwind months that transformed him from a rising talent at Vasco into a Brazil international adapting quickly to Premier League football.
The 19-year-old has already become one of Bournemouth’s most talked-about players after registering five goals and two assists in his first 13 appearances for the club.
His pace, direct running and physical profile have helped him settle rapidly in England, while his form also earned him a first senior call-up to the Brazil national team under Carlo Ancelotti.
Now, in a new interview with UOL, Rayan has reflected on the move itself, the role of a former manager in his career and the emotions surrounding his Brazil call-up.
Bournemouth project convinced Rayan
Speaking while showing Bournemouth’s training facilities, the youngster admitted everything happened very quickly after Vasco’s Copa do Brasil final.
“When everything ended there, after the Copa do Brasil final, I didn’t know what would happen next in my life.”
Rayan revealed that manager Fernando Diniz wanted him to stay at Vasco. However, Bournemouth’s project ultimately changed the direction of his career.
“When we came back from the break, Diniz asked me to stay,” he said. “But when Bournemouth arrived, there was Tiago [Pinto] there, who is a really great and special guy. He showed us the project and I liked it a lot.”
The Brazilian also made clear how comfortable he already feels at the club.
“As you can see here, I’m very happy. It’s been a very important moment for me, not only for me but for my family as well,” he said.
He also gave a glimpse of his training schedule.
“During the week, when we have a full week without matches, we only train in the morning. We report at 9:15am and training starts at 11am because before that we have pre-activation work. Most of the time it’s always in the morning.”
Diniz influence still strong
Rayan then became emotional when discussing the importance of former manager Fernando Diniz in his development.
“He is unbelievable,” the forward said. “He still calls me almost every day if it depends on him. He’s a very special person, someone who helped me a lot and still helps me now. We always talk.”
The Bournemouth attacker also admitted Diniz played a decisive role in changing his career trajectory.
“Yes, he changed my life,” Rayan explained. At the same time, the youngster stressed that his own mentality shift was also crucial during his final period at Vasco.
“I also did my work on the pitch. At Vasco I think I changed my mentality a lot and very quickly.”
That mentality has clearly carried into his early Premier League months.
What happens next
Rayan’s trajectory continues to accelerate quickly. Only months after leaving Vasco, he is adapting to the Premier League, attracting interest from elite European clubs and becoming part of Brazil’s senior setup.
If Bournemouth’s unbeaten run continues and Rayan keeps taking on greater responsibility, the hype around him will only grow.
