Paolo Fernandes: “I would say to Paolo who left Zaragoza when he was 15 that he made the right decision”

Paolo Fernandes (Zaragoza, August 9, 1998) is one of those Spanish footballers who is building a successful career abroad. Emerging from the Real Zaragoza youth academy and recruited by Manchester City, this last season he played in the Saudi Pro League, for Al Khaleej, on loan from AEK Athens. He recently chatted with Mundo Deportivo about this experience, what is to come in the future and much more.

He has a contract with Greek side AEK Athens, but this season he has played on loan for Arab side Al Khaleej. What is your assessment of this course?

I have a contract until 2029. We will see what happens this summer and how everything goes. I have had a good spell after the Achilles injury I had that hindered me, but I have returned to feeling good, what I was, and the year has gone very well. I’m happy about it.

He has had Gustavo Poyet as coach. Did you already know each other before?

I didn’t know Gustavo personally. If I knew about him, in Zaragoza he is a legend and that he was coach of the Greek team for two years while I was here. I didn’t know him personally but I did know about him.

How is the coach in short distances?

He is very close, direct and very transparent. From the first day it was very clear with everyone and with their rules that must be followed in football. In the month we have been together it has been like this.

When you look back and remember the boy who left Zaragoza for Manchester City at just 15 years old, what is the first thing that comes to mind?

Honestly, I made the right decision. At the time I went to England, I had almost never left Spain and that made me grow a lot personally. I matured by force because I left practically alone. Many things come to mind in football. I grew up in my neighborhood team, I spent 9 months at Zaragoza, the offers came to me and we went to City. It was the best decision.

Are you still a Zaragoza fan? How are you experiencing these bad times?

As I told you, I spent 9 months at Real Zaragoza but for me they were very intense and I am very Zaragoza fanatic. I watch all the games I can and it’s very annoying to see the team how it has been this season. I am 27 years old and I have never experienced this situation. It’s screwy but I trust that they will put themselves together strong and come back quickly.

What would you say to that 15-year-old Paolo if you had him in front of you right now? What advice would you give him?

If I saw that Paolo I would tell him to enjoy every moment, that he was in an incredible place and that we had to make the most of it. Be a sponge with everything, both with people and with experiences.

What is the best advice you have been given and who gave it to you?

I don’t know if it will be the best advice but I do remember something that Pep told me one of the times I went up to train with them. Like in my last year there I scored many goals from outside the area and I remember that the highlights of the games were posted throughout the sports city. Well, I remember that I went up with the first team, there was the possibility of shooting from outside the area and I didn’t do it and that was when Pep told me that with the hitting you have, what you do with your team you have to do here too. And it is something that I will never forget, because he told me to be myself wherever I was.

How do you remember that time in the Manchester City youth academy?

The truth is that it was spectacular. I met with players who are now at an incredible level. There were Brahim Díaz, Aradabioyo, Jadon Sancho, Phil Foden (he was smaller but he once came with us), Lucas Nmecha… I was very happy with that whole stage. In my last year I finished top scorer on the team and player of the year with all these stars. In the end, very happy and proud of that stage.

Did you get to train with the first team under Guardiola?

As I mentioned before, I did gain a lot with the first team. But not only with Pep, he had also gone up once before. It was spectacular. But what Pep does in the clubs he doesn’t just do in the first team, he does it throughout the club. Since he arrived the change was noticeable. When he arrived from the strongest clubs in the youth system it was Chelsea and Pep arrived and a clear idea was set throughout the academy and most years the categories that usually win are City. There you can see that not only the first team changes but the club completely.

At a football level, how much has he changed as a type of player compared to what he was when he was 18 years old?

As a player I have grown and changed a lot due to the experience. I’m 27 years old, I’ve been to several countries and it makes you change different styles of play. Some other major injuries that have also changed me a little, but the luck I have is that I am very well surrounded and I have been able to recover from everything and physically I feel very well.

After that he passed through the Netherlands, Italy, Castellón and Greece. Do you think that 2021/22 season with Volos has been the best of your career so far? Why did he fit in so well there?

I went through several countries but I wouldn’t know whether to tell you 2021/2022 or 2022/2023, since I spent half a year in Volos and half a year in AEK. I felt physically very good (which is what worried me other years because I didn’t allow myself to be me). Going to Volos allowed me to be myself physically and when I feel good I know what I can give and thanks to the confidence that was transferred to me from the coaching staff and the directors things were spectacular. So if I would say 2021/2022 or 2022/2023

How much does feeling important in a team influence a footballer’s performance?

In life, as in football, feeling important in a place means you can give your best. In football, if you have good qualities, you have worked hard, they value you and give you importance in a club, you can make a difference. In my case I am a winger or a number 10 who luckily has been in good places and that makes me feel good technically. So if they give you that confidence, when it comes to the last pass, the dribble or the goal, it will always be more positive.

He has one more year on his contract with AEK. Looking ahead to next season, what plans do you have?

In some places it says that I have until 2027 but in reality I have until 2029. I have 3 years left and now we have to see what happens this summer. I don’t think I’ll come back, but I want to feel good where I am. Even though I have been very good at AEK and I have them in my heart, I want to play. In the end, feeling important in a team is what I want. So we will talk to the club and see what decision is made.

Would you repeat your experience in Arabia?

It must be seen of course. The Arabs have surprised me a lot. The Saudis are very close, the colleagues are spectacular, they have always been great with me. The league is growing every year and I would certainly do it again.

Is returning to Spanish football something you have in mind? Is it a firm objective?

Well, in the end I would like to return to Spain at some point. I just became a father and I am thinking about returning, I don’t know when but I would like to return.