Matheus Fernandes: "My idol is Sergio Busquets"

Matheus Fernandes is one of the new faces in the Barça squad for the 2020/21 season after spending part of the current campaign on loan with Real Valladolid. The 22-year-old Brazilian spoke to Barça TV about his idol and the objectives he'd like to achieve at Barça.

Here are some of the main points from that interview:

How he'd describe himself

"I’m tall and quick, and I can beat opponents with my speed. I win balls too, I know how to apply playing pressure and I’m skilful. All of that is going to help me to adapt to playing for Barcelona."

"I think the fact that Brazilians like to keep the ball at our feet is going to help a lot. FC Barcelona does everything with the ball, and that’s fundamental for me, very important, and I what I work hardest on every day. I try to get better every day and I’ll do all I can to help Barça."

His ambition

"I want to win major trophies. It has always been my dream to play for Barça, and now I have got that chance I want to make the best impression possible, and if possible finish my career here."

"I have always had ambition and I always wanted to play alongside such great players, the kind of players that influenced me as a kid, and to follow in their footsteps. When I heard Barça was interested it was so rewarding to know that I have been doing things right. Because if a big club comes calling, that’s because you have been doing a good job."

His role models

"I have admired many players, but most of all Busquets. I always took inspiration from Busquets. There were others, like Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, who were all role models for me."

"I am so proud that people compare me to such a great player, my personal hero. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do what he did in a Barça shirt, but I hope to have a good career here, doing all I can to make a contribution to FC Barcelona."

Sharing a dressing room with Messi

"I still can’t believe it. I will be playing next to Messi, next to Busquets, that’s a dream come true for me. I am so happy that I’ll be sharing a dressing room with such players."

His LaLiga debut

"I wasn’t expecting to play against Atlético Madrid. I was well focused. I knew what I had to do. I’d been training for some time with Valladolid, and I not only played the game but was named man of the match, I was so happy. I’m getting better and better, and working very hard on my game."