Luiz Felipe Ramos (Colina, São Paulo; 25 years old) is one of the signings of this Betis who arrives today at the Santiago Bernabéu as co-leader of the First Division together with Real Madrid (Movistar, 4:15 p.m.).
He attends a sunny morning at the Ciudad Deportiva Luis del Sol and takes on the challenge of defending Betis and facing one of the best players on the continent, Karim Benzema.
Ask.
What has surprised you the most these first few weeks at Betis?
Response.
The experience that a coach like Manuel Pellegrini gives off and then, of course, it was impressive how I experienced my debut the other day against Osasuna with incredible fans.
It was a privilege to live that, it gave me goosebumps.
In any case, I had already been warned about what this hobby meant.
I spoke with Durmisi, a teammate at Lazio who had played for Betis, and he told me that this hobby was crazy.
Now I am checking it.
Q.
Why did you decide on Betis?
R.
I wanted to change a little.
The League was always a championship that I liked a lot.
Lazio is a big club, it trained me as a player and as a person, but I wanted encouragement, an adventure in my life and I chose the offer that Betis made me.
From the first moment the opportunity arose, they had the virtue of making me feel important before signing the contract.
Q.
You left for Italy at the age of 19.
How was this adventure?
R.
I played soccer since I was 13 years old and I came to Iutano, which is now in the Brazilian Series B.
I played for that club for a year and Lazio signed me thanks to a scout's report.
I was 19 years old.
He was a child, he didn't speak Italian and my adaptation was complicated.
I played very little after being loaned to Salernitana, from Serie B, just four games.
Upon my return to Lazio, I settled into the team and have played five seasons at a good level in Serie A.
P.
Does your football mix the impudence of the Brazilian player with the order of the Italian?
A.
You could say yes.
As a Brazilian I really like to play the ball from behind and take risks.
In Italy I learned to position myself well, to read the games and, above all, tactics.
I have been growing and now, despite the fact that I am young (25 years old) I think I am at a good point of maturity.
I come to a different football and I am sure that I will adapt soon.
P.
You only participated for a few minutes last day against Osasuna, did you notice something different from how they play in Italy?
R.
I was surprised by the intensity with which it is played in Spain.
It was only one game, but I noticed a lot of back and forth.
In Italy everything is like more stopped, more orderly, with two teams that are expected.
In Italy there is a lot of order, there everything is more stopped.
P.
Which are the defenders that you have always admired?
A.
As a child I really liked Lucio, who played for Bayern Munich, Leverkusen and Inter.
Then Thiago Silva.
Of the Spaniards, the ones I like the most are Puyol and Sergio Ramos.
Luiz Felipe, in the sports city of Betis.
alexander begs
Q.
Does a central defender have to be tough to be good?
R.
No, for me a good center back has to have a good reading of the game and know how to go out with the ball.
The center back has to know how to read a game, it's a key position.
That of kicking now with the VAR does not make any sense.
Perhaps in another time, in another football, it was easy to do because they didn't control you and the referee could not see the action.
Now the players are very controlled.
The best virtue of a center-back is not to hit, it is intelligence and the good exit of the ball.
Q.
Which forward has given you the most problems?
R.
The one who drove me crazy in training was Ciro Immobile, my partner.
He always attacks you deep and back.
I couldn't stop him.
Then, the strongest that I have scored are Lukaku and Dzeko.
Q.
What do you think of Benzema?
R.
The numbers say it all.
He himself is now the best striker in La Liga and probably in Europe.
But I'm not afraid.
P.
With Lazio you have faced players like Haaland or Cristiano.
R.
Two great players, with many qualities, who demand a lot from you.
Against Dortmund and Haaland things went very well for me and we won.
It is a pleasure to face players of that level because they measure your level and force you to improve yourself.
P.
How do you explain the good moment of Betis?
R.
What I am seeing is that everyone feels important and that makes the group grow.
Then, I have verified that this is like a family.
When I arrived I felt like one more.
Joaquín is the boss and then Bravo, Guardado, Fekir and Canales are the ones who set the course.
P.
Do you see your team with options to defeat Madrid?
R.
Against Madrid you have to play with great concentration.
Guardado keeps telling me that we've gone five games without losing at the Bernabéu and without even conceding a goal.
It puts a little pressure on me.
P.
He is Brazilian, but he is international with Italy.
Could you explain this process?
R.
He had been international with Brazil in the inferiors.
In Italy they wanted him to be an under 21 international, but I held out in case the Brazilian team called me.
Two years later Mancini called me.
He told me that he liked my game, that he loved me and that he was going to make me debut with the senior team in Italy.
His interest was enormous and he showed that he loved me.
I made the decision and I am happy to be international with Italy.
It was hard because my family lives in Brazil.
The first months were difficult, but when your parents see that you are happy with Italy, everything changes.
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