Nelson Semedo: I'm really happy, Barcelona is like a family
The Portuguese defender is back in Lisbon for Wednesday's Champions League game
When he was 16, he had the chance to sign for Sporting before he moved to Benfica
Nelson Semedo spoke to the press alongside Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde ahead of Wednesday's Champions League meeting against Sporting Lisbon.
The Portuguese international began by explaining his situation in the team: "I feel good. My team-mates and the coaches have helped me a lot. It's like a family and I am really happy."
A lot of the questions focused on his time in Portugal and his relationship with football there. "I developed at Benfica, Sporting's rivals, but I owe Barça now and I want to win," he said, adding that "we're going to work hard to qualify and I hope that Sporting get through, too." And, of course, he was asked about his trail at Sporting as a teenager. "It's true, but fortunately that didn't move forward and I signed for Benfica. If it happened like that, maybe I wouldn't be at the best club in the world now."
Sticking with Portuguese matters, he was asked about his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo. "I have a good relationship with him. Ronaldo’s a good person. I admire him a lot. We know that we’re playing for rival teams now, but I think we are still the same friends as we used to be. Things haven’t changed because of the teams we’re playing for."
And he was also questioned what it would be like for Lionel Messi to play at the ground where Ronaldo came through as a player. "I don't know if it's special for Leo. I don't think it will be special for him because it's where Cristiano Ronaldo began. I think he will give his best, though, like he always does."
Semedo's quickly been given the nickname the motorcyclist at Barcelona. "I think it’s because I constantly get up and down the wing. I hope I can continue to play that role in the team because it would be a good sign for the future," he explained.
Finally, on Neymar's exit, he said: "He was a great player for the club, when he was here he clearly gave a lot to the team. But we have players that have substituted him, that have come into the team strongly and deserve to be given a chance."
