André Vila: Left Porto with unfinished business, Jamor loss stings | OneFootball

On a hot October afternoon, in the autumnal setting of FC Foz’s synthetic pitch, André Silva recalled his trajectory at FC Porto. Amid smiles, greetings and selfies, the Portuguese forward, now 29 and playing for Elche, spoke to Maisfutebol about his roots, his development, his role models, and the path that took him from Baguim do Monte to elite European football.

He remembers the family influence on his choice of sport: “I started at Salgueiros in 2001, influenced by my cousin and my parents, who wanted me to play a team sport,” André Silva emphasizes, highlighting football’s role in his personal and social growth. Despite spells at Boavista and Padroense, it was FC Porto that left the biggest mark: “I grew up in this city and the club always had a special meaning. Wearing FC Porto’s shirt was the fulfillment of a dream.”

He cites Falcao, Jackson Martínez and Deco as references, and fondly recalls former teammates like Nuno Santos, now at Sporting, and Rafa Soares. From his time with the B team, he underscores Luís Castro’s professionalism: “He was demanding and left his mark with the way he led. Winning the Second League in 2016 was a huge source of pride.”

His debut for the first team came in December 2015, with his first goal arriving in May of the following year—against Boavista—and his crowning moment in the Portuguese Cup final, with a bicycle kick against Sp. Braga. “Those were the happiest moments of my life, even with the defeat. I believed we could win.”

Among the figures he shared a locker room with, he remembers Helton and Casillas with affection and good humor: “I shared a room with Helton. One night I saw him setting up a drum kit and thought he was going to play… Fortunately it was for the next day! Casillas was a world reference, but he also liked to tease in training.”

His breakthrough in the 2016/17 season, under Nuno Espírito Santo, marked a turning point in his career: “He knew how to get the best out of me. He was demanding, but inspiring.” Today he praises the coach’s path in the Premier League, “taking Nottingham Forest to European spots.”

Regarding Diogo Jota, with whom he shared a room and a friendship, he describes him as “a determined and simple guy, with clear goals who knew how to enjoy the game.”

His more recent memories also include the losses of Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa and Jorge Costa. “The president left an eternal legacy. I remember the 2016 renewal, when he was present. These are people who stay with us.”

The forward views FC Porto’s present with optimism: “Porto fans deserved this enthusiasm. Mister Farioli is doing a good job and the club is on the right track.”

As for a possible return, he doesn’t close the door: “I left with work still to be done and titles to win. Everything in its time, but the connection to FC Porto is eternal.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.