“Out of the seven months, I cried for five”

How is your life in Qatar?

Life is very peaceful, very good. We only train for one period, towards the end of the day. During the day, I do my personal training, I stay at home, I play a little with my children. We go out a lot too. It’s a moment that we have, and that we don’t have much in Brazil. In general, I really like it here.

No (laughs), just a few words. Only the Salam alaikoumwhich is their accomplishment. And a few swear words too (laughs), which we learn from the players.

Do you think it was a good decision to come to Qatar (Róger Guedes arrived at Al-Rayyan in August 2023)? Don’t you think you stayed away from the Brazilian team?

I always thought of the Brazilian team. When I was at Corinthians, in 2023, it was the best time for me to go, but I ended up not going. I don’t regret coming here at all. The league is growing a lot, we are working to grow, like Saudi Arabia. I am very happy here.

Since your arrival at Al-Rayyan, you have scored 66 goals in 75 matches, which is one of the team’s highlights. How do you see football here, do you think it is very different compared to Brazil?

It’s very dynamic football. I always joke that here I run more than I needed to in Brazil, mileage-wise. As it’s warmer here, in the second half the game becomes a little more open, so we end up hitting and coming back a lot.

There is a lot of talk about financial matters in Qatar, which is the country that offers long-term and high-value contracts. Do you think money is a priority for you?

No, not priority. Many people say that mercenary players go here and there. But it’s like any other job. You are always trying to earn more and improve. And when you start playing football, it’s not for money, because you start earning money after you become professional. We play first of all for the love we have for the profession.

Does Qatar usually offer exorbitant prices after matches?

It’s no different from Brazil. I believe that in Brazil, sometimes, there is still an animal a little bigger than here, in the Libertadores matches, in the Copa do Brasil. The biggest thing I had here, in reais, was R$50,000. This is only one match so far that I have gotten this amount for.

Is it common that the stadium is not as full here? How to motivate yourself with low attendance?

This is what I suffered the most when I arrived here. Sometimes I joke that it was just my family in the stands. It ended up being a bit discouraging, especially since I was at Corinthians, who had 40, 45,000 every game. A gigantic difference. But it’s really good here and I love the support of the fans, whether you win or lose.

Do you prefer the pressure of Brazil or the lighter climate of Qatar?

I prefer the crowded stadium in Brazil and the (less) pressure there. Here they know how to respect, I think maybe it’s very similar to European football, where you lose a match and they don’t invade the stadium and stone your car. But in Brazil, I think that is changing, because only one team is going to win. In the Brasileirão there are ten teams that can easily win the title.

You recently had a negotiation with Grêmio, which ultimately did not take place. Were you frustrated because it didn’t work out?

There was a real conversation, an official proposal. I don’t know if they made two or three official proposals to Al-Rayyan, but my president ended up saying no to all of them. I wasn’t frustrated, because I have a contract here and I’m happy. We know that football is very dynamic and at every window clubs are looking for me, mainly because of what I do on the pitch.

And do you think you will return to Brazil at some point?

I don’t think I’ll go back now, or later, or in five years, but people ask me if I want to go back one day, if it will be now. I leave a lot of things in God’s hands. At the time, I thought I wouldn’t leave Corinthians and everything ended up happening very quickly in the last week (of the window). Football moves very quickly and you have to be ready for anything.

You played for Atlético Mineiro, Palmeiras, Corinthians… Do you think there is still a club in Brazil that you really want to play for? Is there one in Europe that you would like to play?

A dream in Europe would definitely be Real Madrid. I also liked Roma because of (Francesco) Totti. In Brazil, I really wanted to win more titles. It would definitely be a dream for my family to play for Grêmio one day, because my family is all Grêmio fans. I think for my father it would be a dream, but it’s not something he asks of me.

You do private training with your physical trainer. When did you start thinking this should be part of your routine?

I started working with Ramon (physical trainer) in 2020. I spent six months training with him at Criciúma and decided I wanted this for the future. He ultimately couldn’t come with me (to China) at the time because of the pandemic, but in 2021, when I go to Corinthians, I will take him there. Since I started working with him, the numbers have been there. It has improved my routine.

What was it like spending time in China during the pandemic in 2020?

It was the most difficult period. We know that there you need to have a strong mind to avoid depression. I had to quarantine myself in my room, I stayed in the locked hotel for 14 days. Then, in the championship, it was six months in a hotel. And a month off. All this time away from the family. Ryan (oldest son) was three at the time and wouldn’t talk to me on the phone because he thought I didn’t want to take him. I cried straight away. Out of the seven months, I cried easily for five.

And what have you done to distract your mind?