Marcos André (Sao Luis, Brazil, 10/20/1996) is sweet. In his debut season in the First Division he has already scored three goals, he is the offensive reference in Real Valladolid and he lives happy to be in Ronaldo's club, a question for which he has no words due to the admiration he has always had for his current president . He works morning and afternoon to recover from his pubalgia and is already aiming for the Metropolitan.
You have scored three consecutive games in the season of your debut in the First Division, how do you feel?
The truth is that I am very happy, nor did I expect it to be like that. The truth is that I am very happy.
What has changed so that in the first matches you will not hit the mark and now the goals do enter?
The truth is that in the first games I was close and I didn't fit in, but we forwards are like that. When the first one comes in… Everyone told me that the first one was the most difficult and then the others come. I think it was so. In the end is searching. If one day they do not enter, you have to keep looking for the next and it will enter.
The concern comes from those pubic problems, in which you are working, how are you? Will you have to go under the knife?
The truth is that yes, I am working hard with the physios and recuperators, the operating room is the last option, the people of the club are taking care of me very well, we are doing specific work. I go in the afternoons to do work at the stadium. It is a discomfort that hurts a lot, but we try to reduce the pain and arrive at the game in good condition.
He has been in Spain for five years, Celta brought him, then he was in Logroño, in Miranda … Did you expect to have an explosion like that in Primera?
What I think is that I have arrived, right? I have gone through all the categories of Spanish football and the thought is always to adapt as quickly as possible to each division. To be honest, I didn't imagine it was going to be like this, but I think it's the reward for my daily work and things are going well for me.
Does scoring in Primera taste different?
Yes, yes, of course. In Second I scored 13, and very well, but now you see the difference of scoring in First. Scoring two in First is worth 13 in Second. It's a very good feeling.
When you were a child in Brazil, who did you notice?
You know that in Brazil we have always had very strong teams and I always paid special attention to Ronaldinho and Ronaldo. I always liked seeing Ronaldo because of how he played, because he was a forward, he played in an incredible way, he seemed very complete.
And now he is president …
I just have no words. I can see it 500 times a day and I can't believe it. It is an indescribable feeling. He was always an inspiration to me. I tell you more, is that in my life, because of the distance, because of who he is, a well-known person, I never thought I would meet him, I watched him on TV and was hallucinating, and now I know him, I have him as president, I advises… I have no words.
Does he treat you differently for being the only Brazilian on the squad?
He does not treat me differently, but it is true that we speak things differently. We are Brazilians, we have our things from the country … but no, Ronaldo treats us all the same.
What is the advice that has marked you the most so far of those that you have given?
Before the Athletic game, in which I scored my first goal, he approached me and told me to be calm, that the goals would surely come. And he joked saying, one meter from the stick in, and that's it.
And after the goal and the game?
Well, he was very happy, but come on if he was happy, imagine how I was who had just scored my first goal in First Division and we had won. He had recommended calm, telling me that he was going to score and see him watching me play … and, on top of that, he managed to score … And then share it with him … It's an unforgettable feeling.
You have not been able to travel to Brazil to see its people for a long time, do you miss it?
The truth is that I miss my country, my family, my people very much. I haven't been there for two years and I'm looking forward to it. Going there is sure to give you tremendous encouragement. Everything has its moment. Now we are in the middle of the season, hopefully things will be better in May and we can travel and I will enjoy them.
How are your people living it from a distance?
My friends in Brazil follow all my games and since things are going well for me, they are happy, they send me messages, my mother watches the games with my brother and they are very happy. That gives me energy to fight and improve because there are many people there who trust me, who want to look good and that gives me a lot of courage to continue.
What is your team in Brazil?
I was always a fan of Palmeiras. Ronaldo played for Corinthians, which is his biggest rival, and sometimes we talk about the goals he scored for my team.
You already have three goals in a row, do you set a goal for the end of the season?
Nerd. I want to continue doing my job, continue as I am. I'm good. We have to go little by little, game by game, goal by goal. Hopefully at the end of the season we can talk and celebrate that I have scored many more.
For a person like you who has just arrived at Primera and is having this success, is it difficult for you to manage the fame, the congratulations, the interviews, see yourself on TV, in The Day After?
I try to do my best. I'm not going to lie to you, I don't like interviews because I'm a bit shy, but it's a normal thing. They are things that happen. I try to carry it in the best possible way.
On Saturday, the Metropolitan, one of those fields that motivates …
The truth is that yes, there is always motivation, but the Metropolitano is one of those dream fields, one of those where it is exciting to play. We will go to death to try to win.
Does the fact that Atlético come to play in the Champions League this week and have a final in this competition next week, does it give Real Valladolid more options?
No, against Atleti you never have an advantage, in the end whoever plays is sure they are going to make things very difficult for us. We are doing well, the group is very united and with the clear conscience that we are going to get there and we are going to compete as much as possible. No game is easy, much less this one.