Former Real Madrid player Savio is on vacation in Madrid with his family, where he visited the new Santiago Bernabéu stadium and took time to be interviewed by AS. They discussed the current situation at Real Madrid under Mourinho, as well as the form of Vinícius, Endrick, and Rodrygo.
It's a pleasure to see you again. We're currently in a long international break, so let's start there. As a Brazilian who also played for the national team, what do you think about the team's ongoing rebuilding process after a disappointing World Cup?
I've always said that after the World Cup hosted in Brazil, we had an opportunity for a complete overhaul. Changes should have been made after that painful match against Germany at home. But we did nothing at the time, which led to many problems in subsequent World Cups.
There are many talented young players in Brazil, but they can't seem to work together effectively. We need to make changes, but being abroad, I'm not entirely sure how to do that.
As a Brazilian and former national team player, I know the Brazilian public is unhappy with the national team right now. I don't feel the close connection that once existed between the team and the fans. We can only wait and see what happens in the next four years as the squad is refreshed.
You played here and have a touch of Spanish identity. The situation of the Spanish team is quite the opposite of Brazil's. Did you happen to see their big win against Croatia in Seville?
Yes, I did. I've always said the Spanish national team is like my second home. I love Spain, I had a very happy time here, and I admire your national team's playing style.
In that World Cup, after Brazil, I most wanted Spain to win. I liked their dynamic style, fluid attacking transitions, and excellent tactical positioning. Their performance in that World Cup was impeccable.
We are now just a few hundred metres from the Bernabéu. Three years ago, I interviewed you when Real Madrid was competing in and eventually won the Club World Cup final. After that, the team won its 15th Champions League title... but the past two years have been a rollercoaster for the team.
Real Madrid always comes with immense pressure; I understood that quickly during my time here. This club has 15 Champions League trophies, so if they don't win it for two consecutive years, it feels like a disaster to the outside world. That's how intense the pressure is.
Such a great club cannot accept being without a title for two or three consecutive years. I see Mourinho working hard to find the optimal solution and the most suitable tactical formation, but it still needs a little more time. Every new signing brings incredibly high expectations...
What's wrong with Vinícius? He seems to have lost his usual flair.
I don't know about his personal life, but on the field, you can see he's not at his best. The only way to overcome a slump is through hard work and maintaining a strong mentality.
His first two or three years at Real Madrid were also difficult. Back then, people in Brazil always asked me why his finishing wasn't good, and I always said to be patient—he was just a kid! He went directly from Flamengo's U17 team to the first team. With time and training, he developed and won two Champions League titles as a key player. Now he must focus entirely on Real Madrid and become a match-winner again.
Vinícius is a very emotional player, and the Bernabéu crowd seems harsh on him. Last month, even though the team beat Inter Milan, he was still booed by home fans... How can the relationship between him and the supporters be mended?
It's not easy, but the only way to improve it is through hard work and mental strength. There's no other way.
So, should the crowd also show him more patience and understanding?
It's difficult for such a massive fanbase like Real Madrid's to be patient. I played for Flamengo and Real Madrid, and both teams have huge fanbases with immense pressure. I used to see that pressure as a challenge and tried to enjoy the game on the field.
If I were to give advice to Vinícius, it would be to focus entirely on football and continue working hard. As long as the fans see him giving his all on the field, they will always support him.
And Rodrygo—he hasn't been able to fully enjoy football for a long time. I spoke with you about him recently. How do you think he is doing now?
Injuries are the worst thing for athletes. I've also experienced injury periods, though not as severe as Rodrygo's current one. After an injury, you have to train with the physical therapist every day, working towards an early return, and you can't rush the recovery process... When I saw him, I felt he was in good spirits—a very down-to-earth young man.
Through my son and his friends, we exchanged number 11 jerseys: one was my old jersey, the other is Rodrygo's current one. He is an extremely talented player, excellent in tight spaces with his dribbling, speed, and tactical awareness. Real Madrid misses him greatly.
Another player who hasn't found his form again is Endrick...
I haven't played against Endrick much, so I can't really identify the exact problem. What I remember most are the brilliant matches he played for Palmeiras before his transfer to Real Madrid; he was young then and incredibly talented.
It feels like he's playing with shackles at Real Madrid. The issue isn't his ability, but rather a lack of consistent playing opportunities or not being integrated into the team's system...
But once he finds that switch that clicks, everything will be different, right?
Exactly, but to trigger this transformation, he needs to play. He's had too few opportunities in recent years. He has shown his talent at Palmeiras and in France.
I hope he gets the chance to enjoy football, whether at Real Madrid or another team. For young players, regular playing time is the most important thing.
Would you advise him to go out on loan again?
For me, playing for Real Madrid was a five-year dream, but I didn't just want to be part of the team—I wanted to play. If Endrick can't integrate into the team and his situation doesn't change, given his age and talent, he must find a place where he can play.
The Clásico is coming up soon, and this match seems likely to heavily influence the league title race. Barcelona's Raphinha is competing with Mbappé for the Golden Boot; did you anticipate this?
Raphinha isn't a natural finisher, but he is exceptionally talented and has already proved himself at Barcelona. His confidence is growing, he's becoming more familiar with the team, and his finishing is improving. He's very quick and has had an incredibly bright season.
But the Clásico is the Clásico. Real Madrid has many talented players with strong individual abilities, but the team still needs to gel all the pieces together...
Over the past two seasons, a recurring issue for Real Madrid has been that the team's shape often becomes disjointed because attacking players don't contribute enough defensively. It seems football has become like this: even if you're good at dribbling, if you don't track back defensively...
Football has changed; there's much more running in the game now, but you can't lose the essence of football itself. You can't abandon dribbling and beating players. When I was at Real Madrid, Roberto Carlos told me to go forward and attack confidently, and even if I lost the ball, he would cover for me.
That gave me a lot of confidence. Tactical defending and marking need practice, but you can't lose your own playing characteristics. Many wingers now focus more on defensive duties than on attacking.
Speaking of dribbling, what do you think of Diomande?
I really appreciate talented players like him: those who dare to dribble and break through, and even after making a mistake, they don't hesitate to try again. This young player is fast, talented, and also provides good defensive contributions.
This quality seems to be innate, doesn't it?
Yes, daring to break through and trying again after falling is crucial for players of his type. The Bernabéu appreciates sincere players who always stay true to themselves. I have high hopes for this young player.
You briefly mentioned Mourinho earlier; let's talk about him again. Is Mourinho the right person to lead this Real Madrid team?
I haven't worked with Mourinho, but I've played against teams he managed, and I've always admired his coaching style. He has won many titles with every team he has coached, demonstrating outstanding ability.
Time is not abundant for Real Madrid, but I believe he is the best candidate for this current team. As I said before, the team still needs a little more time to gel. He knows what he needs to do, having proved it at several clubs in the past.
There's another major question of the year that I must ask: who will you vote for in the Ballon d'Or this year?
Wow! It's so difficult to choose this year; the nominees are full of top players. No one has absolutely overwhelming dominance, unlike Cristiano Ronaldo or Messi in their prime, where individual performances clearly stood out. It's difficult to pick a single winner this year; the choice is really tough... I'll have to pass on answering that question for now (laughs).
AF's PC site is now live! Browse full news, comments, match details and stats on your computer. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com
cahbkmpsyz
2
Asc