Kiwior said yes to FC Porto at once: “Title showed I’m at the right club” | OneFootball

Jakub Kiwior did not hesitate when he learned of FC Porto’s interest. In an interview with the Polish channel Sportowy, the defender explained that the prospect of playing regularly, the size of the club, and the chance to live in Porto all weighed on his decision, which was later reinforced by winning the league title. His answer came without hesitation: “I really wanted to come here.”

The former Arsenal player, who admitted he prefers the city of Porto to London, described the path from the first contact to the confirmation that he had chosen the right destination. For the Polish international, more minutes on the pitch meant growth, while the title and the connection with the fans gave the move another dimension.

Asked about the moment he realized FC Porto wanted him, Kiwior presented the decision as a natural one. The sporting opportunity was matched by the weight of a club that did not need to make much effort to convince him.

“I really wanted to come here. When I found out that FC Porto wanted me and were interested, I was already saying ‘yes,’ because I knew FC Porto would give me more time on the pitch, more opportunities to play, and because it is a very big club,” he said.

There was, therefore, no long process of persuasion. Kiwior saw in FC Porto the competitive environment he was looking for and treated the move as an immediate choice.

Regular playing time was the main argument, but the league title strengthened his conviction. The defender linked his individual development to time on the pitch and found in the title the collective validation of his decision.

“Playing regularly is what helps you improve the most. Spending so much time on the pitch helps you grow with every game,” he stressed. “I am 100% satisfied with my decision to come here. The title confirmed that I am in the right place.”

The satisfaction expressed by the Pole goes beyond the triumph itself. The trophy stands as confirmation of a journey built game by game, precisely through the opportunities he was seeking when he agreed to move to Porto.

The first league title of his career also became a memory that will be hard to top. Kiwior was impressed by the scale of the celebrations and by the way the city and the fans rallied around the team.

“It was my first league title, and it will be difficult for the next one to surpass all these celebrations. I hope there will be many more opportunities to celebrate, but the bar has been set very high,” he recalled. “Seeing the whole city, the fans, and the entire atmosphere prepared to celebrate the title was fantastic. I couldn’t imagine anything better.”

The impact was not only in the sporting significance of the title. It was the scale of the celebrations, experienced beyond the pitch and spread throughout the city, that turned the triumph into such a memorable experience.

Recalling that day, the defender highlighted a celebration that began on the Douro and ended in downtown Porto. The journey, with boats, fireworks, drones, and an open-top bus, left him with very vivid images.

“We had the boat ready, the fans rented jet skis, boats, everything to sail alongside us. Then we stopped by the bridge, with fireworks and a drone show,” he described. “The views were wonderful. Then we rode on the open-top bus with the trophy to the city center, where crowds were waiting for us. It was a spectacular day.”

The description conveys the amazement of someone who saw the celebration grow along the way. For Kiwior, the party made visible the emotional bond between FC Porto, the fans, and the city.

That bond, he stressed, was not limited to matches at the Dragão. The support at away games made the team feel a familiar atmosphere even far from their own stadium.

“They traveled with us to away games and filled the stadiums,” he said. “I didn’t even know when we were playing at home or away, because it felt like we were always playing in our own stadium. It’s fantastic to see how they live this and to feel their support.”

The constant support completes Kiwior’s explanation for the certainty with which he looks at his choice. Between regular playing time, the title, and the presence of the fans, the defender found at FC Porto the confirmation he was looking for.

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