New Juventus signing Lucumí, in an interview with "Tuttosport", stated that the entire team views Spalletti as their leader and said that his defensive teammates at Juventus can teach him a lot.
What are your earliest memories of football?
It's with my father: we used to play together. In the factory where he worked, we would always gather a team and step onto the "field." I always wanted to follow him, to help him carry his jerseys and all sorts of equipment. But ultimately, all I cared about was football.
That love was already rooted back then.
I could also use that rare free time to spend more time with him.
What was it like growing up in Cali, Colombia?
It was wonderful for me. It's a special city, and you could say it made me who I am today. I grew up there as a player, playing for Deportivo Cali. Honestly, I'm very glad to have that cultural background and roots from my homeland; it's my identity.
How does it feel when you return home?
I can feel everyone's warmth, that unique warmth that belongs to us. This feeling will never leave me. One should always remember where they come from, and returning to one's homeland always holds great significance.
Colombian media once spoke of your deep affection for your grandmother.
Yes, it was my maternal grandmother. When my parents were busy with work, she raised me, and then she had to take care of my younger brother. We would come home from school, and she would have everything arranged, spoiling us immensely. Later, when I started playing football, she would always take me to every training session. I was too young then, and she didn't feel comfortable with me going alone. A large part of my football journey started with my grandmother.
At twenty, you left Colombia for Belgium.
Let's just say it was a very impactful change. But to pursue bigger goals, I had to take that step.
How much did this experience help you?
I encountered completely different cultures, living habits, and languages, and the impact was tangible. But my goal was very clear: I knew what I wanted to achieve, and I understood that these hardships were a necessary path. I focused solely on football itself, playing my best on the field. Ultimately, I believe fate favored me, granting me more than I expected.
You also met your wife in Belgium.
Yes, she's Colombian, but we met in Belgium, which was a completely unexpected gift. Now she is the mother of my children, my beloved, my wife. This connection is especially wonderful; no one expected us to meet in a foreign country.
How did you two meet?
Through some friends. At the time, Muñoz was playing for Genk, and now he plays for the national team with me. My wife was a friend of Muñoz's wife. We started talking, and feelings developed. I am incredibly happy to have her by my side; it's my good fortune.
Speaking of the difficulties abroad, did you ever consider giving up?
To be honest, I never truly thought about giving up completely. Of course, some thoughts would cross my mind: being in a foreign land, you'd feel it's too difficult. I left everything familiar in Colombia to strive here. But I never considered abandoning everything and returning home. There would be confusion and unease, physical and mental exhaustion, a longing to go home to rest and heal, but I never backed down. I knew the path I had chosen.
This experience taught you life skills.
It taught me independence. Independence is not easy, but you have to learn to do everything yourself, to grow as a person, and to develop new habits. For me, I also want to teach this to my children: there are no shortcuts in life. Only by giving your all every day, little by little, can you create your own life.
Then you moved from Genk to Bologna. What changes did that experience bring?
My time in Bologna was special. When I joined, the club was not in an ideal situation, and my arrival was timely. The team improved significantly, won many games, and both the team's strength and morale underwent a transformation. I also benefited greatly from this.
One could say you almost made a name for yourself overnight.
The club embraced me and gave me a valuable opportunity. After playing in Belgium for almost five years, hardly anyone noticed me, and I always struggled to break through. Bologna saw my value and gave me the chance to play in Serie A, one of the most competitive and highest-level leagues in the world. Bologna made me who I am today.
So why did you choose not to renew your contract back then?
I felt it was time to move to a new level, to reach higher. After discussing it with my wife and family, we all yearned for new, greater challenges. Even so, I will always be grateful for the opportunities Bologna gave me; I've always been clear about that. When I first joined, I said that Bologna was an important stop for me, but it wouldn't be the end of my career. I came here to improve myself and then seek further possibilities, and the club understood my thinking.
How did you feel when Juventus approached you?
When both parties started talking, I was genuinely thrilled. When a club like Juventus reaches out to you, it's hard not to be excited and imagine what it would be like to join. I had always dreamed of this moment. As the negotiations became clearer, I was determined to come to Turin no matter what. I wanted to be a part of Juventus and experience it firsthand.
The journalist smiled and said: You became teammates with Conceição after a clash on the field.
It wasn't like that; those were just things that happened on the field, and we moved past them after the game. Honestly, I had no intention of getting into an argument with him at the time.
Did you two talk afterwards?
We talked immediately after the game. I told him, "Brother, it's really nothing." I added, "If anything I did offended you, I apologize; I absolutely didn't mean to."
What was Conceição's reaction?
He showed his character and grace, replying, "Brother, it's fine, I didn't take it to heart at all; I was just focused on the game." What happens on the field stays on the field. I apologized proactively because there are always some unpleasant moments on the field that can be easily misinterpreted. The related video amplified the misunderstanding, but the whole thing had long been settled, and we have a good relationship now.
However, it was precisely because of this incident that Spalletti admired your personality.
Perhaps. But this is my true nature, and it's my playing style. In any situation, I'm willing to give my all, and I'm accustomed to being 100% committed. I don't do these things for attention; it's just my love for football that drives me. Whether others like it or not, it's an instinct from the heart.
What's your relationship with the head coach like?
We get along well, and that goes for all my teammates too. He's our coach, the team's leader. We just need to implement his tactical arrangements, improve our overall standard, and deliver on the field what we've polished in training and the playing style he wants.
Was starting against Parma a surprise for you?
Playing for Juventus, you must always be ready; this is the greatest club in Italy. It was undoubtedly a special moment, my Juventus debut, but I felt very calm, even eager. Even if I didn't start, I looked forward to getting playing time. In any case, the team always comes first.
Everyone says Spalletti is like a commander. Are you willing to go to "battle" for him?
Exactly, he is a very demanding coach. He craves victory, pursues perfect game performance, and wants the team to always maintain its best form. So yes, we are willing to go to battle, and we have the confidence to fight. We train intensely all week to be in the best possible condition for matches. We see him as our leader, follow his deployment, and move step by step towards our common goal.
How do you evaluate your defensive teammates?
The overall strength is outstanding. They are skilled players and also good people, making it very pleasant to work with them. Of course, there's competition within the team; everyone is at a high level. Everyone will give their all for the team to help Juventus achieve its goals, and that's the top priority. I really enjoy playing alongside them; they've played in countless important matches, are very experienced, and can teach me a lot. I will try my best to absorb their experience, which is crucial for me.
What can you bring to the team then?
First, I hope to integrate into the team and be myself. I love training, giving my all, never giving up, and I will also motivate my teammates. I am a team player; the collective always comes first for me. While I do possess individual abilities, it's always the team that determines success. I will contribute my personality and technical skills.
What are you willing to give to win the Serie A title?
I won't reveal that yet; I want to win the title first. Right now, I'm only focused on the match against Milan. If we win that game, we'll be closer to our goal. When we win the title, I'll tell you the answer.
You don't like to boast prematurely.
That's better; many things predicted too early often don't come true. I prefer to take things one step at a time, and the most important thing right now is the match against Milan. If we win, we will fight for victory with all our might, and we will get closer to our significant goal, which we hold dear.
Have you talked to Cuadrado about Juventus?
Of course, we are good friends. He left a profound mark here, and his championship trophies are the best proof. He only had positive things to say and encouraged me to come here and experience it. Becoming a Juventus player is a very heavy honor.
In Bologna, everyone called you "The Iron Wall." Will you have a new nickname in Turin, "The Turin Tower"?
Perhaps the nickname "The Iron Wall" will continue; I really like that nickname. It originated in Bologna, and I'm glad I left my mark in that city. My wife and children also have cherished memories there, and we will always be grateful.
What do you hope your son will be proud of in your career?
Everyone talks about dreams, and playing for Juventus itself is a dream. But more than that, I want him to remember my character, my daily persistence, and how I constantly fought for my goals. I want him to understand that he has to build his future little by little himself; no one will give him everything for free.
And in terms of football?
I hope he can be proud of all the honors I won wearing this jersey and remember the contributions I made to my teammates along the way.
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