Danilo: 'In Madrid, I forgot how to play football'

Danilo has just had an interesting interview with The Guardian, in which he shares about the challenges at Madrid, his time learning under Pep Guardiola and the importance of mental health in football.

Danilo once played for Real Madrid.

In the spring of 2015, Real Madrid signed Danilo from Porto, hoping to replace Dani Carvajal. However, life in Madrid has not been what the Brazilian defender expected. Danilo, who now plays for Flamengo, admits that he has faced heavy criticism, which has forced him to seek psychological help.

“At Real Madrid, I felt like I forgot how to play football,” he said. The former Los Blancos player said he struggled with the pressure from the media and social media, to the point of having to seek help from a sports psychologist to help him cope.

After leaving Madrid, Danilo joined Manchester City and played under Pep Guardiola. He credits Guardiola with completely changing his outlook on football.

“Guardiola taught me not only how to play football, but also how to think about football. He made me aware of the space on the pitch and he was always very inspiring,” said Danilo. Under Guardiola, the Brazilian full-back had two successful seasons at the Etihad, winning two Premier League titles.

Throughout his career, Danilo has also experienced many difficulties, but he remains steadfast in his own path. "I don't need to follow the crowd. Everyone has their own path, I don't force myself to live like others," he shared about his views on life and competition.

Aside from his football career, Danilo is very interested in mental health in sports. He believes that clubs need to humanize football and pay more attention to players' mental health issues. "When clubs realize that mental health affects the team's performance and finances, they will have to invest in this area," he said.

Danilo also founded the “Voz Futura” project in 2020, which aims to raise awareness about mental health, especially during the pandemic. He wants to help people share and find support during difficult times.

With valuable experiences and profound perspectives on football, Danilo is not only a talented player but also a pioneer in raising awareness about mental health in sport.

Source: https://znews.vn/danilo-tai-madrid-toi-nhu-quen-mat-cach-choi-bong-post1540801.html