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mawspurs
16-05-2010, 02:31 PM
Source: NotW

Brazilian prepares for London life

SANDRO is seeing a psychologist to help him adapt to life in the Premier League.

The £14million Brazilian tied up his move to Tottenham last month as Harry Redknapp prepares his squad for next season's Champions League campaign.

The Spurs boss had been watching the defensive midfielder since the start of last season and he will arrive at White Hart Lane after the Copa Libertadores in August.

Sandro, 21, will until then use his time to help make changes to his life ahead of the move after admitting he will find it a struggle settling down.

The Internacional star is recognised and often mobbed by fans in Port Alegre, Brazil, and believes he will find it hard to adjust to being unknown in London.

He is also determined not to be a "six-week wonder" and be forced to return home like many other players from South America in recent years.

"There are lots of players who have moved to Europe but returned immediately as they couldn't adapt to their new countries," he said.

"I know I will suffer and I'm going to have some difficulties when I move to London but I want to be prepared for that moment. I'm going to fight and stay in Europe.

"I don't want to be a six-week wonder and then return home, like many Brazilian and South American players do. I want to make my career there and then return to Brazil - but only after I have achieved all my goals in Europe.

"When I went to Tottenham, the people there treated me really well. I had two translators who helped me all the time and I saw a nice atmosphere in the club.

"I also saw Heurelho Gomes, who told me 'you can go there, but you can't go there' and I'm now doing some adaptation work with a psychologist.

"I'm nervous as no-one there in London knows me. The people there don't know how I play so I will have to start from zero but that is part of football."

Sandro did not make the Brazil squad of 23 for next month's World Cup despite being named in the initial 30 for South Africa by coach Carlos Dunga.

He believes Tottenham will have to wait a while to see the best of him as he contends with moving to a completely different environment on and off the pitch.

"The good thing is that I know that I'm going to face many problems in the beginning. It would be wrong if I go to England and think - Here I am, Sandro from Porto Alegre," he said.

"They would send me back in one week. I will not be recognized there as I'm in Brazil today. Here, many people approach me on the street but I have to picture myself going out in London and no-one approaching me to talk. That will drive me mad.

"So that is why I'm working with a psychologist. I have to be prepared. I'm confident in myself, but I'm a little anxious to be going there right now."

peter_the_yid
16-05-2010, 02:50 PM
No one recognises me either, maybe we can become friends?

nferno
16-05-2010, 03:07 PM
lmao this guy is pullin out all the stops, i seem to remember the picture of him reading an english dictionary in an internacional shirt on a plane. seems like he's really up for it haha

mil1lion
16-05-2010, 03:07 PM
I like how they slap £14m from out of the air. I guess they're wanting to put extra pressure on the player by doubling what we paid for him. That way, if it doesn't work out for him, we'll get criticised for splashing out silly money again :roll:

Nick
16-05-2010, 03:56 PM
Great attitude. Take notes BAE.

samways
16-05-2010, 04:13 PM
Slight worry- why on earth would you be worried about people not recognising you- surely he must know that a new foreign import with 3 or 4 good performances in our league and you get sky, bbc, espn and the red tops all over you!! :duh:
aside from that though..... not sure if I'm too comfortable with a player seemingly over concerned with his profile before even kicking a ball for us.
Maybe I'm reading this wrong but I don't like it

camaj
16-05-2010, 04:13 PM
£14m isn't silly anymore. £30m for Berbatov looks like silly money

joe_bazza
16-05-2010, 05:50 PM
He's just saying that he wants to make a name for himself as a footballer, not that he wants to be a celebrity. Right from the minute we were linked with Sandro I've been impressed by everything he's said. He seems highly professional, down to earth and ambitious for all the right reasons. I hope his skills match up because we could have a real leader on our hands.

Knarf44
16-05-2010, 07:04 PM
Obviously, no one has told him that London is full of Brazilians, some of whom are probably Internacional fans who'd recognise him instantly. Gomes will help settle in and no doubt invite him over for a Churrasco (BBQ) and an ice cold (bem gelada) Skol. :beer:

I just hope some of our more fickle fans give him time to settle and don't write him off as quickly as they did Gilberto.

taidgh
16-05-2010, 07:17 PM
i don't care how's he's been photographed. i think he seems like he's got a good attitude and he looks like he's got a great view on how difficult it's going to be to fit in and what he needs to do. i really hope he's able to be an emerging talent here and bide his time as he works into the first 11.

yozza
17-05-2010, 09:52 AM
Good attitude, and it seems like he's really determined to do well.

brasil_spur
17-05-2010, 06:45 PM
Obviously, no one has told him that London is full of Brazilians, some of whom are probably Internacional fans who'd recognise him instantly. Gomes will help settle in and no doubt invite him over for a Churrasco (BBQ) and an ice cold (bem gelada) Skol. :beer:

I just hope some of our more fickle fans give him time to settle and don't write him off as quickly as they did Gilberto.

Good advice, there are loads of Brazilians in London - just move into a nice flat in Bayswater and he'll have no probs bumping into them.

The churrasco is more problematic, as the best one in town has 3 locations: the best of which is down the road from the Emirates on Upper St, Islington.... gooner country.

I'd go with a Brahma over a Skol in the UK, or better yet a Caipirinha or two. :wink:

wildheart
17-05-2010, 07:32 PM
I think I like him already.

Good luck Sandro