One To Watch
Andrey Santos: “It’s often a party in the locker room.”
"Are you going to treat your teammate, Diego Moreira, to a nice meal?"
Are you saying that because he said something nice about me? He said I was the best player in the world? Oh yeah, absolutely (laughs)? Well, I have no choice, I'll organize two nice meals for him at home and we'll enjoy ourselves. I don't know how to cook very well, but I have a chef who will take care of that."
"Apparently, you've had a whole staff at your service for the past few months. Does that explain your progress?"
"I've hired a nutritionist, a chef, a physiotherapist, and a fitness trainer. All of this is paying off. It's important for a high-level athlete, even more so when they're competing in Europe."
"Who inspired this choice?"
"When I was at Chelsea, I went to lunch with Thiago Silva. I saw how much he had invested in his body, his physique, his diet. I understood that to last, you have to leave nothing to chance. He even showed me his hyperbaric chamber in his room to aid recovery (laughs). All of this inspired me, and I kept it in the back of my mind. I don't know if I'll be able to play until I'm 40, like Thiago, but I'll try (laughs)."
thank you for everything God! 🙏🏽⚪️🔵 pic.twitter.com/cxoeE1rAn3
— Andrey Santos (@04Andrey) March 29, 2025
"Apparently, you struggled to adapt to Strasbourg..."
Yes, it was hard, especially because of the cold. I grew up in Bangu (a suburb of Rio), one of the hottest places in Brazil. Before joining Racing, I spoke with my friend Angelo (Gabriel) to find out what he thought of the club (where he played in 2023-2024 before joining Al-Nassr), the structure, and the team. He only told me positive things. So I accepted the challenge Chelsea offered me, and I'm very happy to have taken this path. Today, I feel great in this city and at this club that I love. I can even say that I've become a bit Alsatian (laughs)."
"What can you tell us about Liam Rosenior, whom almost no one knew when he arrived this summer and who has become the revelation of Ligue 1?"
"It's well-deserved; he's a great coach. I love working with him. All the players are excited by his commitment and his vision. Plus, the style he advocates is perfect for me. He wants possession, to multiply the passes to trouble the opponent, and he wants to win; that's the most important thing. He asks me to do everything: defend, win the ball back, and pass it back as cleanly as possible. But he also gives me the freedom to project myself, to shoot from distance, to get into the box. I feel useful."
"In the team, we have a lot of unknown but talented players..."
"I think it's the youngest squad in Europe. These guys are ambitious, cool, and united. It's often a party in the locker room. The coach likes that. He wants us to transfer our energy and our joie de vivre from the locker room to the pitch. It's a philosophy I like. I participate a little in the "mess" by singing and dancing. But I like to work in my corner, focused. I also play translators and Portuguese teachers. Félix (Lemarechal) and Guéla Doué are really curious. I teach them expressions, but I can't reveal them to you (laughs)."
Which three players do you like in the squad?
"I love Mamadou Sarr. He's only 19, but he plays with a lot of personality and confidence. There's also Argentinian Valentin Barco. I've played him twice (in the U15 South American Championship in 2019 and during the pre-Olympic tournament in 2024) and I've already seen that he's a real contender. I can't forget Dilane Bakwa, who is an aggressive player and the second-best passer in Ligue 1 (9)."
"What do you think of Ligue 1 McDonald's?"
"I thought I knew Ligue 1 because I watched PSG matches to see Neymar. But when I arrived, I was surprised to discover a very intense, very tough league. People don't know that. I like this championship because it's competitive. You have nine teams vying for six places with eight matches remaining. It's interesting, and I think Ligue 1 is super competitive."
"What is Racing's goal now?"
"It's to go as high as possible, without setting any limits. There are eight matches left, very important ones. We'll play them like finals. We have to stay united and secure European qualification for our fans."
"I hear you're the darling of La Meinau..."
"I'm happy to feel their love. From my first goal, against Metz last year (2-1, May 12), I felt they had adopted me. This season, it's even stronger."
"Will you be wearing the Chelsea jersey, where you're under contract until 2030, next season?"
Nothing's set in stone. It's the Chelsea management, in conjunction with the Strasbourg team and my agents, who will decide what we're going to do. For now, I'm focused on the extremely important match against Lyon. We want to finish the season well. We'll see after that. Wherever I am, my main goal will be to play as many matches as possible to qualify for a place in the 23-man squad for the 2026 World Cup (one cap in March 2023). I was disappointed not to be called up (against Colombia and Argentina during the last window), but I'm not far off; I'm on the shortlist."
"What will you remember from your time at Strasbourg?"
"I've found a real family at Racing. Here, I really feel a strong bond between the players and the staff. I'm not sure I'll find such an atmosphere again during my career."
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