A former black player, now 41, visited Alvalade, the Academy and the Sports Museum
Rochemback took advantage of a trip to Portugal earlier this month to “miss” Sporting, the club he represented on two occasions (2003 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010) and which was, as he asserts, his “second home”.
“For me it was really a joy to be here and to be able to remember all of this, to be able to feel what they went through when I was playing. That’s why I want to send a big hug to everyone. [os adeptos] And tell them that I will always be with Sporting. I want to bring a game to be with them, let’s see when I can come back. How do I know Sporting? As one of the best clubs, the club where I felt at home. I was happy to play. “We always have our first home, but Sporting is without a doubt the second,” the former Brazilian midfielder, now 41, confirmed in an interview with Sporting.
Accompanied by his wife and two children, Rochemback visited Alvalade, the Accademia and the Sports Museum, places that awakened memories of a “beautiful walk”. “I was with Joao Pereira at the academy, but I didn’t play much with him, and I will be with Nelson [Pereira], who was even the one who spoke with the people of the club to be able to make these visits, and with Beto, with both of whom I played longer “, he revealed, assuming that he continues to follow his former club” mainly via the Internet “, through which I am also happy to win the national title. On 2020/21: “It was like I had won with them, I lived like I was here. It was a great joy. At that time, I congratulated myself on my social networks and managed to talk to many fans who wrote to me.
Goals and exits… unwanted
Rochemback made 100 appearances and scored 14 goals with the green-white strip and the goalkeeper, in particular, some own goals. “What I scored against FC Porto, at that time against Vitor Baia, what I did at Feyenoord’s home or against Newcastle, in Alvalade. They were beautiful goals”, as he describes without a doubt that he was a “midfielder with a goal”.
Also in the trunk of memories is the departure of Alvalad, as Barcelona loaned him for the first time, towards Middlesbrough, in 2005, which was not even required. “The first time I left, I didn’t want to leave. I left for Middlesbrough because of my release clause being broken. I had to leave, but I didn’t want to,” he admitted, certain that “100 matches was good and nice”, but with a desire in “Do More”.
Posted by Ricardo Granada
