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Setubal sensation Matheus thinks big

Brazilian eyes national call-up and move to a major club

One of the revelations of the Bwin Liga this season is Vitoria Setubal and, in particular, Matheus. The Brazilian winger is enjoying a fine campaign to date, scoring five goals in nine matches.

His goalscoring performances have been a major factor explaining why the team that only escaped relegation on the final day of last season is currently lying in sixth place in the table and are through to the last eight of the Carlsberg Cup.

“This is the best moment of my career. I feel good and I hope to continue to help the team,” said the 24-year-old. “This is a team that likes to work hard and all of us have our feet firmly planted on the ground.”

Wasted at Braga

Matheus is on loan to Setubal from Sporting Braga, and the Brazilian feels he was not given a fair opportunity at the Arsenalistas to showcase his skills, although he insists he has no hard feelings and hopes the club who owns his contract has a good season.

“I was not utilized well. I wasn’t given opportunities, but I worked hard. I believe that I can make it with any team, but Sporting Braga have good professionals and I’m rooting for them. I made some great friends up there.”

Setubal have beaten Braga twice already this season, and ironically Matheus scored in each game. “I’m not going to lie, it was special,” beamed the Brazilian. “Sporting Braga are the club with whom I have a contract with, but now I must think about Vitoria Setubal. To play in the attack and try to score goals is my function. That is what happened.”

Carvalhal connection

One factor behind Matheus’ request for a loan move to Setubal was the fact that he could reunite with coach, Carlos Carvalhal. The Portuguese tactician was Braga’s head coach last season before leaving due to an altercation with the Braga brass. Carvalhal then coached Matheus again later in the season when the two were at Beira-Mar.

“He’s a young coach. He finished playing the game relatively young, but he knows how to treat players. He likes me and I hope to have the luck he wishes for me.”

“The coach told me that at this club it would be different and this has been the case. We have our salaries paid on time and I expect nothing to go wrong in the future. We only think about the games. The rest is left for the board of directors.”

Brazil dream

What does the future hold for Matheus? The winger is ambitious and admits that he would like to move onto something bigger, whether it be in Portugal or abroad. He also would like to make the Brazil national team and says he admires Brazil’s head coach, Carlos Dunga, for selecting players who were sometimes overlooked by previous national coaches.

“All Brazilian players dream about playing for the national team. Dunga is giving unknown players an opportunity to play, like Afonso Alves. The future will be what God decides. Who knows, maybe one day…”

“My goal is to have a good season. Afterwards, I will think about my future. Clearly, all players think about the big clubs, but I can also return to Braga. I can transfer to a big Portuguese club or move abroad. I do not have a preference. I can make room for myself at any of the big clubs.”