Diego Moreira: I personally prefer playing on the right; I chose No. 22 because of Kaká

AC Milan new signing Diego Moreira attended a fan meeting at the club's official flagship store and then accepted an interview with the media present.

Hello, Diego! First of all, welcome to Italy. I would like to know how your experience at Milan has been progressing so far. After sitting on the bench in the first two matches, are you ready to play in the big clash against Juventus next Sunday?

First of all, the first few days after arriving at Milan were almost magical for me. It is a completely new environment and a brand-new experience. My teammates here have been very friendly and have taken great care of me. Since the first day I arrived, they have always taken the initiative to communicate with me, which made me feel very warm. From the moment I stepped into the club, I felt as if I had returned home. Therefore, integrating into this group and building good relationships with the team has been very easy and natural.

Of course, I am fully prepared. I am always ready to play for the team. Right now, I am just patiently waiting for my moment to get on the pitch. I believe the head coach will give me the opportunity to show myself at the most suitable and correct time for him, the team and me.

So, on the pitch, which area do you personally prefer to operate in? Within our current tactical system and style of play, what is your preferred position?

On the pitch, I personally prefer operating on the right side, playing as a right winger or right wing-back. I have already had specific discussions about this with the coach, and this is also the position where everyone will see me playing most often in the future. Yes, it is on the right because I feel most comfortable there and I can best display my characteristics and strengths.

Hello, Diego. We know you previously wore the No. 7 shirt. At Milan, the No. 7 shirt was actually available, so why did you ultimately choose the No. 22 shirt?

First, I want to clarify that the No. 7 shirt was not available when I arrived because Santi (Giménez) was still with the team at that time. So I had to choose from other numbers. I chose No. 22 partly because that number matches my current age — I had just celebrated my 22nd birthday before officially signing for Milan. Another reason is that a great and exceptional legendary player (Kaká) once wore No. 22. I greatly admire and like this player, and that is the reason and secret behind my decision to choose this shirt number.

Milan invested a significant amount of money in you and has great confidence and trust in you. Facing such a major investment and expectation from the club, do you feel a lot of pressure?

I would not use the word 'pressure' to describe my feelings. I would rather see it as a great honour. If a club is willing to invest a certain amount of money in a player, it means they sincerely trust and believe in that player. Now it is my turn to go on the pitch, show my ability and prove that their decision to believe in me was completely right. Therefore, when I fight alongside my teammates and play in front of all the Milan fans who support us, I will give everything I have on the pitch without reservation.

Hello, Diego. This summer, we saw you training in a Milan shirt with Saelemaekers' name on the back. I would like to ask whether it was purely a coincidence, or whether you had already expected at that time that one day you would officially wear this Rossoneri shirt?

Honestly, it was completely a coincidence. This shirt was a gift he gave me when we were together with the national team because he is a loyal fan of mine and really appreciates me, while I personally also like this Milan shirt very much. So when I went on holiday, I simply brought it with me and wore it during the trip. Surprisingly, just a few weeks later, I officially completed my signing with Milan. So it really was just a coincidence, but having such a coincidence feels great and very special.

What exactly convinced you to join Milan instead of choosing other Italian clubs that were also interested in you, such as Roma? This is certainly very interesting...

We all know that Milan is one of the greatest super clubs in the history of Italian and world football. When such a great club shows strong interest in you, it is difficult for any player to hesitate or consider a second option. Therefore, from the moment I learned they were interested in me, all of Milan's glorious historic moments immediately came to my mind. In my opinion, it is the top club in Italy, and I am very happy and proud to be able to play here.

Hello, Diego. Can you tell us about the specific negotiation process behind your move to Milan? Because the transfer was completed almost instantly, what would you like to share about that?

Actually, I did not participate much in or follow the specific details of these negotiations. I am just a football player, and I chose to leave these complicated matters entirely to my agent and my parents. They handled everything excellently and did a fantastic job. As I said before, I am extremely happy to be here. I am a professional player, and my only mission and responsibility here is to play football well. That is the only thing I am currently thinking about and focusing on.

In the past one or two years, you have been one of the young players with the most direct goal involvements among Europe's top five leagues, and your performances could even be considered among the best. Among players of your age, only Nico Paz has performed better in this statistic. Yesterday, Nico Paz was also named the best young player in Serie A. Will reaching that level or winning such an honour become one of your personal goals this season?

First of all, I want to say that my primary goal this season will always be to do everything possible to help the team win matches. Personal honours and achievements must come after collective interests. If we cannot achieve our goals together as a team or accomplish anything together, then any individual statistics and honours will lose their meaning. Therefore, I will stay grounded, fulfil my responsibilities on the pitch and do my job well. I believe that if we do what we need to do on the field, all personal rewards and honours will naturally come in time.