"Happiness at being able to do what I love again"

MANU'S RETURN

Brought on in the 90th+2 minute of Benfica's victory over Ajax (0-2), Manu ended a 290-day hiatus from playing after suffering a serious injury to his left knee on February 8, 2025. Speaking to the club's media, he shared his emotions at the Johan Cruijff Arena.

Having overcome his ordeal away from the pitch after a return described as symbolic by coach José Mourinho, the midfielder thanked everyone for their support during “many days of struggle” and expressed his desire to repay all the affection shown to him by the football club and its fans.

Last Tuesday, November 25, was also marked by his debut in the Champions League. Amidst the satisfaction of fulfilling a “childhood dream”, the Eagles' number 16 is already setting his sights on future goals with great ambition!

290 days later, how did you feel when you returned to the pitch?

I think it happened so quickly that it's hard to even understand how I feel. It was fast... The coach called me, and I barely had time to process it all. Although, in the days leading up to it, whether we wanted to or not, we always ended up trying to imagine what might happen, how we might feel. But above all, I feel immense happiness at being able to do what I love again, helping my teammates. And also, as I mentioned, a little bit of gratitude. A lot of gratitude for all the people who were involved in these many days of struggle, and now, here we are, at the culmination of all that work, all that effort... It was the first.

At the end of the game, everyone applauded you. Your teammates even “threw” you in front of the fans, so to speak. What went through your mind at that moment? What was behind that little sparkle in your eyes?

I think that, when the game is over, we always start to get feedback from everyone. I began to realize more that things had really turned out the way I wanted them to. The affection I felt there, at that moment, was a little more individualized, but it was nothing I hadn't felt during these nine months. Everyone always makes me feel part of the process. I also always tried my best, within my means, to help my colleagues, to offer a word of encouragement, a joke, some advice... It was a bit like that. And even from the fans, whose affection had also been constant throughout. Even though I played very few games, very few minutes, I always felt that I was being recognized for my career, for what I could still give. And now it's also time to give back, not only to the fans, but mainly to my teammates, because they are the ones who connect with me every day.

And what about the “boyhood dream”?

Even though 2025 was a different year than I expected, I went, perhaps, to heaven... Not to hell because it's a bit... These problems are a little difficult to say are that serious. Everyone goes through this, there are much worse problems. It was another dream that I managed to achieve. The Champions League was indeed a childhood dream, especially with Benfica. But after achieving them, new goals begin to appear, and I already have my eyes set on them.