"I will leave the heart on the pitch and give everything for the Club"

INTERVIEW

The pride of a family whose hearts speed up when the eagles enter the field, Leandro Barreiro promises total dedication in defense of a club he learned to love at a young age. In his first interview as a Benfica player, the 24-year-old midfielder spoke about a dream come true, his goals for the 2024/25 season and how he hopes to fit in perfectly with Roger Schmidt's idea of the game.

Born in Luxembourg, the country for which he is an international, the new arrival from Mainz has roots in Portugal and Angola and, in fluent Portuguese, expressed his desire to infect the Benfica fans with his energy.

"I'm very happy to be here at this great club. Can't wait to give my heart to Benfica and show in every game and training session the energy I have to help the team win games and titles", said Leandro Barreiro in an interview to BTV.

What influence the name of Benfica had on your family roots, especially in Portugal?

My father has been a Benfica fan since I was a little boy and I also became a Benfica fan when I saw my first football matches. As I have family in Portugal, football and Benfica have always been important in my life.

We can imagine that this is a very happy moment for the Barreiro family. What have your family been telling you?

Since the first time we spoke about the opportunity to come to Benfica, my whole family was very happy to have me back in the country [Portugal], closer to my grandparents and relatives I hadn't seen for a long time. Everyone is very proud of my path and of being able to be here at this great club.

Your destiny [in football] took a lot of work. It was a career built on hard work...

Absolutely. I started early and, at the age of 16, I left Luxembourg for Germany. I went to the training center [Mainz] and took my first steps into the professional world. I managed to earn a starting spot in the team and write a story at the club. I've worked hard to get to this level and to be able to make this move to a huge club shows that I've done things right.

Mainz fans loved you. Do you expect the same from the Benfiquistas?

I've left my heart and energy on the pitch in every game I've played, and that's what I'm going to do at Benfica too. I think the stands will notice that.

At Mainz, you were used to high pressure and that's also a feature of Roger Schmidt's way of playing and of this Benfica team. Do you feel that can benefit you at this stage of your career?

I'm sure it will. Because I'm a player who runs a lot and covers a lot of space defensively. Up front, I'm also on the lookout for spaces where I can be dangerous so that I can score goals or help the team scoring goals. I also like to press high up and that's something that's part of the club and the way the manager [Roger Schmidt] wants to play. I'm sure I'll fit in well.

Have you had any contact with Roger Schmidt? What do you know about him?

I've already had contact with him. We talked a bit about his philosophy and how he sees me helping the team. At Mainz, there were people he's worked with before and they said everything was going to be great.

You are one of those players who covers a wide area of the pitch. Do your reading of the game and your physical availability also represent your way of playing and being in football?

I like to play aggressively and with energy, but I also have a cool head at important moments to help the team in any situation.

Have the years of experience in the Bundesliga and at an international level with the Luxembourg national team helped shape and mature your style of play?

In the Bundesliga, playing against very strong teams with exceptional players, you always learn a lot from season to season. The experience has made me more mature as a player and a person. 

What do you know about this new home that has always been yours?

I know the stadium. Unfortunately, I've only been here once, but I've been a fan since I was a kid, so I watch the games and I know the emotion of the fans who live for the club. I'm looking forward to feel that energy and to show that I have it too.

What are your expectations for the new season?

I've learned over the last few years that there are different ways of dealing with expectations. First of all, my goal is to do my best and help the team to win titles.

This is also a season in which there will be a revolution in UEFA and FIFA competitions and Benfica will be present. How will you manage adrenaline levels and high expectations?

I know that, in this club, the expectations are very high and I will help the team to do the best possible and to have a very positive season.

This is a club whose fans are tremendously passionate and will follow you to the most remote stadium on the planet. It's been like that since 1904. As a Benfica player, what's the best way to make them proud?

To leave my heart on the pitch and show that I'm a person who fights and gives everything for the club.

You once wrote that every negative moment represents a lesson and a chance to grow and, on the other hand, that it is important to appreciate every victory because there is a new game just around the corner. Does your football represent the way you think life?

It does. I'm a player who likes to take the positive things from an experience. That's not to say that I ignore negative experiences, but I look at them as a chance to think about what I could have done better and how that will help me in the next game, the next training session and the next week.