A multiple champion, defender Danilo is a reference in the Brazilian National Team. With 56 appearances for the Seleção, the Juventus player has won national titles with all the clubs he has played for: the Portuguese League (Porto), La Liga (Real Madrid), the Premier League (Manchester City) and the Italian Serie A (Juventus). He also won the Libertadores with Santos and two Champions Leagues.
Since last week, the player from Bicas has been training in Orlando under the guidance of Dorival Júnior in search of an unprecedented title in his career: the Copa América.
“I have some things that are guiding me at the start of this preparation. I missed two Copa Américas in 2015 and 2016 due to an ankle injury and I lost the 2021 final. So, I have a feeling that the Copa América still owes me something,” said the 32-year-old defender, who was first called up in 2011.
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“I am with a feeling of preparing myself in the best possible way, of giving my contribution in the best way. As I said, I think the Copa América still owes me something and I came here to seek it,” he added.
Danilo is one of the leaders of the group called up by Dorival Júnior for the Copa América dispute, which will open on the 20th.
In addition to the good performances in Brazil’s last two matches, he drew attention for his emotional speech in the Wembley dressing room just before the Seleção took the field and defeated England 1-0 in March. The friendly match marked Dorival Júnior’s debut as coach of the Seleção.
In an interview with CBF TV, Danilo spoke about the pride of playing for the National Team, leadership and revealed that he is passionate about knowledge. “Studying psychology is on my radar. It’s one of the things I’m passionate about,” said the defender.
WHAT HE SAID
DREAM IN THE NATIONAL TEAM
It’s always gratifying to be here in the National Team. Much more than the commitment, much more than the work, much more than aiming to win things. It is a pride to always wear the shirt of the Brazilian National Team. Although I have been here for many years, it is always a feeling of euphoria, a feeling of fulfilling a dream. So, I think this pride, this joy is what guides our work every time we come to the Brazilian National Team environment and start preparing for a good tournament.
SEEKING THE COPA AMÉRICA
Some things are guiding me at the start of this preparation to think about the Copa América. I missed two Copa Américas in 2015 and 2016 due to an ankle injury and lost the 2021 final. So, I have a feeling that the Copa América still owes me something in this sense. I am with a feeling of preparing myself in the best possible way, of giving my contribution in the best way. As I said, I think the Copa América owes me something and I came here to seek it.
FIRST CALL-UP
It has been many years. It was in July 2011, I remember the details very well. The coach was Mano Menezes. I was in Colombia with the under-20 national team, we were world champions at that moment. I was on the way to play the semifinal. I was at the airport and there, looking at social media with my phone. I knew there would be a call-up. I stood there quietly watching, and when I saw my name on the list, I showed it to Casemiro, who was by my side and is a great friend. We shared that moment there a little just the two of us in a quiet way. It was a very memorable moment. It represented a turning point in my career.
CALL-UP FOR THE COPA AMÉRICA
My smile speaks for itself. Being here in the Brazilian National Team always represents the most important step in a player’s career. And to continue here for 13 years, about to turn 33 years old, is even more gratifying. It shows that I was linear in my work, that I followed a conduct with dedication. I have always tried to evolve, to be in my best condition, and thus be called up again.
LEADERSHIP
There is the right time for conversation, the right time for intervention with speech. Most of it is through acts. Showing in training, in conduct, in daily life, how great it is to wear the shirt of the Brazilian National Team. My way of inspiring (the younger ones) is by showing that after so much time, I train with great intensity.
And, of course, I try, when the right moment comes, to make interventions through conversation, to tell stories and humanize what is my trajectory, to make them also feel part of everything we are trying to build.
OUTBURST IN WEMBLEY
England was being treated as the greatest National Team, as the favorite. But we have to understand how much the shirt of the Brazilian National Team weighs, how important the history behind the Brazilian National Team is. When we are here, it is a choice, it is a call, and it is something that needs to be expressed. We work, we have pride, we have dedication, we have commitment. Assuming our part. Showing this much more humanized way, the desire to be here, the butterflies in the stomach, you know, the pride, the emotion. So, it was much more a call, much more than a response to anyone.
It was a call for responsibility, a call for the union of all fronts. We have a lot of work ahead of us, and I think each one has to make their contribution.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Watch the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
