Samu: “When fans stop me in the street…” | OneFootball

Samu Aghehowa, FC Porto striker, spoke in an interview with the Spanish newspaper Marca about his long road back after the serious injury that kept him off the pitch and out of the 2026 World Cup. The Spain international also highlighted the collective strength of the Dragons, the demands of the fans, and his ambition to return to the national team, making clear the mentality he has found at the club: “We only think about winning.”

After several months out of action and missing the campaign in which Spain lifted the World Cup trophy, Samu is looking ahead once again. Between the confidence inspired by the work being done under Francesco Farioli and the desire to reclaim his place in the national team, the striker puts ambition at the center of everything.

When describing FC Porto’s strength, Samu began with the collective. More than individual talent, he pointed to the group’s unity and winning culture as the pillars of a team that refuses to treat any match as secondary.

“Our secret is being a team. That’s what I like most about this group. We are a family and we fight for each other. Everything is going very well. Last year was incredible. We won the league again three years later,” he explained. “With the arrival of coach Farioli, we started breathing a different kind of air, and the truth is that this year we also started well, winning every game in domestic competitions. We are very happy, but we know this is only the beginning of a very long journey. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and understand that our only limit is ourselves. Our ambition is to win every game, even friendlies. That is what makes this club great. We are very happy and confident about the future.”

The message combines enthusiasm and caution: there is confidence in the path taken, but also the awareness that the level of demand allows no room for complacency. For Samu, FC Porto’s stature is measured precisely by that permanent ambition.

That demanding standard is also felt off the pitch. Asked about the greatness of the club, the striker described constant pressure, passed on by the fans even in everyday encounters.

“We are at a top club on the world stage. When fans meet me in the street, the first thing they tell me is that I have to win,” he stressed. “That’s the atmosphere here. We feel a lot of pressure, but it is positive pressure, because we have to honor this badge. We only think about winning. The support of the fans is very important, because without them it would be much harder.”

Samu does not shy away from the weight of expectations; he turns it into fuel. Pressure appears, in his words, as part of Porto’s identity and as a reflection of the bond between the team and those who follow it.

The striker’s focus also extends to the Spanish national team. Accustomed to being called up before the injury, he admitted it feels strange to watch the call-ups from the outside, but refused to rush a process that requires time and match sharpness.

“Before I got injured, I used to be called up to the national team, whether for the under-21s or the senior side,” he recalled. “It’s a bit strange to be left out, but this process is very long and I need to get my rhythm back. I hope this is the last international break without playing.”

The absence hurts, but it does not change the immediate priority: rebuilding step by step. The expectation that this was his last international break without competing still shows that his return is already clearly on the horizon.

Faced with the difficulty of winning back a place in the world champions, Samu kept a confident tone. The objective is to return quickly, understand the team’s dynamics, and make the most of every opportunity.

“We are talking about the world champion national team. My objective is to return as soon as possible, adapt to the dynamics, and make the most of my time with the national team,” he said. “I know it will be complicated, but I really believe in myself. If I do things well, I have a great chance of being called up again, and that is one of my short-term goals.”

The bar is high, and Samu does not hide it. Between the caution required by his return and confidence in his own abilities, the striker sees a call-up as a near-term goal, depending above all on what he can show on the pitch.

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