Club news

Bernardo Looking To Aid International Aspirations

By James Hilsum • 12 July 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion defender Bernardo hopes that his move to England will aid his international aspirations.

The Brazilian full-back completed his move from Red Bull Leipzig last Thursday and hopes that the prospect of playing Premier League football can put him back into contention for a place in the squad.

He said, “For sure it helps. I saw that, for example, when I was in Germany playing for Leipzig. It’s a small club but it reached second place in the Bundesliga and I was not even on the radar.

"I was a player that played many matches, but my name was not even being speculated. Richarlison from Watford, he is playing for a good club but not in the top six.

“Everyone is now talking about Richarlison, so the Premier League brings you to another level, because everyone is watching it.

"The staff from the national team and all my friends wake up and put on the Premier League. In the Premier League you just have to do your thing, because people are watching you.”

Bernardo admits there is more pressure to perform due to his nationality, but admits his style is different to the flair you would normally associate with the South American nation.

"There is a lot of expectation when you say you are Brazilian. People think you are going to be like Ronaldinho, get the ball, do tricks, dribble around everyone and score.

"It's not like that. I have a different profile from the typical Brazilian player. My behaviour away from the pitch is a bit more calm. I am more of a hard-working guy on the pitch than the one that does tricks and dribbles."

The 25-year-old will battle it out with Markus Sutter and Gaetan Bong for a regular left-back starting berth, and Bernardo highlighted what he wants to bring to the team.

“Talking specifically about left-back, I think many people nowadays see left-back as more offensive than defensive, but your first job is to defend and then if possible to attack.

"That is what I want to bring, to make the defence line even stronger, to bring more stability, to win duels, to do whatever a defender has to do and bring something positive to my team."