Amuzu introduced at Gremio: “I immediately felt confidence from coach”
THURSDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2025, 11:18 - emjomi
INTERVIEWS Francis Amuzu gave his first press conference today as a Gremio player. A lot of journalists had shown up. Among other things, the flank player explained why he chose Gremio and Brazil. “Many people were surprised, but from here you can make a nice transfer to England, Spain or Portugal,” he said.
“It was an easy choice,” Amuzu replied when asked why he chose Gremio. “It was my manager who said Gremio was interested. What immediately appealed to me was that the coach called me. That way I immediately felt the confidence he had in me. He said I would play a lot. If I perform well, of course.”
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Continue reading “The first thing I noticed here was the weather. It was very hot, different from Belgium. The players welcomed me well. I felt at home right away. Martin (Braithwaite, Dane and ex-Barcelona) speaks both French and English. I can't wait to start. I saw two games of Gremio. I will have a lot of space. That's good for a fast player like me. Hopefully I can adapt quickly.”
Injuries Amuzu's injury proneness is also already known to Brazilian journalists. “Injuries are part of soccer,” he replied when asked about them. “I had one big injury, a pubalgia. I was out for three months. Afterwards, I came back and my body had to adjust again. After that, hamstring and ankle injuries followed due to a tackle. There wasn't much I could do about that. The weather here will help me not get injured much.”
“I'm not afraid of injuries. My body will adjust to it. I do like playing a lot of games in a row. That keeps me sharp.”
Love from fans Amuzu already feels right at home and loved at Gremio. “When I arrived in Brazil and set up my phone, I saw a whole bunch of messages. The fans were happy I was there. That gave me a boost to perform even better. Martin already told me that on the field you have to give your all. Then you have the support of the fans.”
“Will Amuzu learn Portuguese? “Of course I will try to learn that. It is important to be able to communicate with my teammates. The first word I learned is 'obrigado' (thank you, ed.). The people here are very friendly.”
Tough competition Amuzu does not see Brazil as a step toward anonymity. “Some people reacted surprised that I moved from Belgium to Brazil, but if you look at the Brazilian league, you know it's a tough league. Moreover, from here you can also make a big transfer to England, Spain or Portugal. It will be a solid challenge for me.”
Amuzu was given back number nine. “I didn't choose it myself, people gave it to me. But I am very happy with it.”
