Pepê praises Gabriel Mec: “He’s a lad with unreal quality” | OneFootball

Pepê highlighted Gabriel Mec’s talent, the support given to FC Porto’s young Brazilians, and William Gomes’s potential in a long interview with the newspaper O Jogo. The winger showed confidence in his compatriots’ future, but reminded everyone that adapting to European football requires time and hard work. Speaking about Gabriel Mec, he was particularly emphatic: “He’s a kid with absurd quality, above average.”

Gabriel Mec is 18 years old, arrived from Grémio for 11 million euros, and is still waiting to make his official debut for the Dragons. It is during this adaptation period that Pepê brings in his own experience: he knows the difficulties of moving from Brazil to Europe and tries to help those now following that path. The praise for talent therefore comes alongside the idea of high demands, learning, and integration.

While introducing Gabriel Mec to the blue-and-white supporters, Pepê did not hold back in describing his quality. Even so, he made a point of placing the youngster’s current situation in the context of the differences between Brazilian and European football, something he also experienced himself.

“He’s a kid with absurd quality, above average. Coming to Europe from Brazil is a bit complicated, because the style of play and the characteristics are completely different. I went through that, William did too, and so did all the other Brazilians who came here,” he explained. “There’s that adaptation period, of understanding how European football works and what the demands of the manager and the entire coaching staff are like. But he’s a kid with above-average quality, he has everything it takes to help us and bring the fans a lot of joy.”

Pepê’s confidence does not erase the need to adapt; it puts it at the heart of the process. The potential has been identified, but meeting the coaching staff’s demands is part of the journey before he can turn it into a contribution for the team.

That support does not stop at words of encouragement. When discussing the supportive role he takes on with Gabriel Mec, Pepê also extended his praise to Souza, another of the Dragons’ summer signings, and highlighted the guidance given to the two youngsters.

“I try to guide him well, me and William, since we’ve been here longer. Him and Souza too, because they’re kids with incredible potential,” he said. “With the quality they have, and by working the way everyone here works and the manager asks, they’ll bring us great joy.”

In the winger’s view, talent and hard work are not separate paths. The help of those who are already settled in appears as support for learning, without replacing the daily effort that Pepê associates with the coach’s demands.

When the subject turned to William Gomes, Pepê added a personal bond to his football assessment, one that extends beyond the club. What he saw last season and continues to see this one underpins his confidence in a future with greater prominence, dependent on maintaining the work and performances.

“William is a friend I have here, both inside and outside the club as well. He’s a kid with incredible potential, he already showed it last season and he’s showing it again this one,” he stressed. “I’m sure that if he keeps up this level, with the work, the dedication and, above all, the characteristics and qualities he has, he’ll continue to have a great season, bring us a lot of joy, and break through worldwide.”

It is Pepê’s most ambitious praise, but it too rests on one condition: maintaining the level, the dedication, and the hard work. Friendship goes hand in hand with confidence in the player, whose quality the winger believes can reach a worldwide dimension.

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