Following the official announcement of his move to Tottenham Hotspur, Matheus Fernandes gave his first interview as a Tottenham Hotspur player to the club's official media.
On joining Tottenham Hotspur and De Zerbi:
I'm very happy and excited about this next step. Of course, this is a great club, and I already know the city and country. I spoke with the head coach, and I believe he was the key factor in my decision to join Tottenham Hotspur and this project. We will fight for the Premier League title. The way he spoke to me and my family is very special to us. I'm excited to meet him, the fans, and everyone at the club, and to do my best while enjoying this moment. We need a person like him—not just as a head coach, but as someone who can inspire everyone's potential. That will be very special for me.
I completely trust him and this club. The way he communicated with me and my family led me to make this decision. You want to build a strong team—not just to play a few games, but to perform at home and away, to compete head-to-head with opponents with passion, energy, and fighting spirit. That's how I play. I play to win, to beat other teams and other players. We're on the same wavelength, and now my job is to do my best to help the team, the head coach, and the club.
I feel most comfortable playing as a number 8, an all-around midfielder. At Southampton, I played further forward as a winger, but at Sporting CP, I always played deeper. I can play as a winger, forward, or midfielder—I just want to help the team and my teammates while improving my own game. I know I need to score more goals, provide more assists, and work harder because I want to win titles. At Sporting CP, I learned the importance of ball control, controlling the game, and playing with intelligence. Football isn't just about running more or working harder—it's about knowing when to pass, attack, and defend. Everything I am today comes from my past and what I've learned. I'm ready for this next step and the pressures that come with it. This is what I strive for, so I'm very excited to play for a big club and a head coach who wants to win championships.
On adapting:
I'm better prepared to play at this level now. When I joined Southampton, my English was very poor—I only spoke Portuguese and Spanish, and no one there spoke those languages. That forced me to improve quickly. Before, I lived alone, but now my girlfriend and family are here with me, which makes me stronger. I'm ready for the next steps. The key is constant improvement. I've now joined a club with different pressures and mindset, but I believe in myself. I know I can improve the team and club, and I'm here to help the head coach and develop together.
My family, girlfriend, agent, and those around me play an important role in my decisions. I spoke with them and also with Pedro Porro, my former teammate at Sporting CP. He told me everything about the head coach, the team's mentality, the training ground, and the stadium. He spoke highly of the club, so I'm ready. I told him I'm ready to fight for the championship, and that's our goal.
Now I'll do my best. I know things can change quickly in football. I'm currently in good form, but if I have one or two bad games, people might put pressure on me. That's football. I'm very confident in myself and know my strengths and what I can contribute to the team. I focus on one game at a time and think about the next one after. I don't look too far ahead—I try to win in the present. I think that's what matters most.
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