André celebrates his return with the national team after leaving home at the age of 10 with the dream of being a player: ‘A movie is playing in his head’

When he enters the field at Fonte Nova, this Tuesday (19), at 9:45 pm, wearing the Brazilian team’s shirt against Uruguay, in the World Cup qualifiers, a movie will certainly go through midfielder André’s head. The magical moment that came true now was a dream, sometimes distant, of the then boy who grew up in Algodão, a district of the small city of Ibirataia, 344 km from Salvador, and arrived in the capital of Bahia with the dream of becoming a professional player.

This will not be the first time that André will play for the Seleção, but it will be the Bahian’s debut at home. With the certainty that the family will be watching everything in the Fonte Nova stands, emotion takes over the player.

“For sure. This call-up is being very special for me. When we were coming from the airport, we passed behind where I lived. A clay court that I played on”, said the midfielder.

André shone in Brazilian football wearing the Fluminense shirt, where he won the Libertadores title and gained his first chances in the national team. Today, he plays for Wolverhampton, in England, but it was in Salvador that the boy took his first steps in football.

André had his talent identified by his idol and former Bahia Beijoca player during a screening. At the time, the ten-year-old boy was a striker and was taken to the tricolor base. At Fazendão (the club’s former CT), he interacted with players such as midfielder Danilo, formerly of Palmeiras and currently at Nottingham Forest-ING, and striker Biel, with whom he was also a teammate at Fluminense. Today, Biel defends Bahia himself.

The good performances earned him an invitation from Fluminense and the boy, at 11 years old, changed once again and headed to Rio de Janeiro, where he was polished, changed positions on the field and became one of the biggest revelations of the Rio team in recent years. years.

“So a movie plays in my head, knowing that I made the right choice. I left home ten years ago to pursue a dream, and today, being sure that it worked is very gratifying. So, to conclude everything with a flourish, this victory, the team playing well, Brazil always being in the spotlight and not only winning, but winning and convincing. So everyone is focused on this, everyone is committed and I’m sure that in the end it will work out”, added the player.

Starting five qualifying games, André did not participate in the draw with Venezuela, last week, in Maturín, and says he has not yet spoken to Dorival Júnior about a possible starting role. As Gerson became a doubt in the team, the Bahian midfielder continues to fight for a position.

“No. I didn’t talk to Dorival at all. He will define the team before the game. It’s a very different game for me, playing in my hometown, wearing this shirt. I was very happy when I heard my name on the call, with my whole family here. It’s a very special moment”, explained the player.