Felipe Anderson discussed the legacy of Pele, what the number 10 shirt means and his second spell with Lazio.
The 29-year-old Brazilian winger returned to the Biancocelesti in July 2021 for just €3m, only three years after leaving for West Ham in a deal worth around €38m. Since he’s returned, Felipe Anderson has proven himself an important part of Maurizio Sarri’s squad, even if he still sometimes struggles with inconsistency.
Speaking to Lazio Style Radio (via LazioNews24), Felipe Anderson first discussed the legacy of Pele.
In Brazil, before a child walks, he receives a ball as a gift. I grew up listening to stories about the King of Football and when I went to Santos, saw what he did there, I dreamed of wearing his 10.
I succeeded and it was an honour to have a reference like him in world football. To play in the same team as him, to play in his shirt… I still get chills. We are sad, but he will always be a legend.
The 29-year-old reflected on his time with Santos and the connections to Pele.
There I saw all the videos I could, I fell in love with his plays, what he did, how he thought about football.
When I was in the Santos youth system, we had teachers who played with him and they would tell us so many stories. They said he was devastating, no one believed he could be so strong.
He commented on what the number 10 shirt means to him.
The number 10, when you think, is a player who invents, to do something that nobody expects. Today there is Luis Alberto, they call him the Wizard because he invents things that no one expects, not even us on the pitch.
He is always looking ahead. Us Brazilians are fans of this number, the 10 must always make a difference.
The 29-year-old touched on the lack of patience in modern football.
In Brazil there are many of us, when things are not going well there is just as much criticism. Today in football everything is more immediate, if you go wrong in a game, it’s immediately seen. There is a lack of patience.
Felipe Anderson spoke about his favourite game of Pele’s.
The one with Uruguay. Because I like it when a player reads the movements of the defender and tries movements with his body, these dribbles make the difference.
He reflected on what 2022 meant to him. This season, Felipe Anderson has scored four goals and provided four assists in 21 appearances across all competitions.
The year of maturity. When I came back, they asked me if I was like I was in 2014, and I said I was stronger, even though I hadn’t played in two years.
Football is very physical, we have to be prepared physically and mentally, I have seen many games where I was focused for 90 minutes and they give me confidence that I can do even better.
After that also comes the exaltation of technique, improvisation, plays that belong to me.
Finally, Felipe Anderson discussed his wish for the new year.
To the fans I want to wish them Happy Holidays. We hope to take Lazio to the top places, we want to fight for you, we expect you at the stadium to support us as always.
