Eirik Granaas on FC Porto plan: “It’s a bit surreal…” | OneFootball

Eirik Granaas was presented on Saturday as an FC Porto signing and used the last few days of his holidays to return to Norway, where he was able to say goodbye more calmly to Fredrikstad. Taking advantage of the occasion, the youngster gave an interview to the official channels of the club where he developed and revealed some of the plans the Dragons have already outlined for his development in the Invicta.

“I’m going to FC Porto B and it seems that afterwards they want me to take part in pre-season with the first team. That way I’ll be able to get a feel for the level a bit, which will be very exciting. I hope to play lots of matches, enjoy myself and give my best,” said Granaas, admitting that, at just 16 years old, the whole process of moving to Portugal has been “a bit surreal”.

“I really enjoyed it [the trip to Porto]. It’s something completely new… A new language, a different kind of culture and different people… It was very interesting and fun. I was very well received by the people and by those who work at FC Porto. It was a bit surreal that such a big club wanted me. It was very good,” assured the player, who cost the blue-and-white SAD 1.8 million euros, plus €1.5 million in bonuses dependent on meeting objectives.

Granaas believes the move he has completed to the Portuguese champions goes against the pattern usually followed by Norwegian talents, but he guarantees he is ready and “excited” about the new challenge. “I thought the interest [from FC Porto] was exciting, but at first I was focused on Fredrikstad. Then it seemed very interesting to me. Most young players usually go to the Netherlands or Belgium, but we thought: ‘Let’s go for it.’ From then on, we’ll see how far this takes us. It’s going to be a good adventure,” continued the youngster, “grateful” for everything Fredrikstad has given him over the last two years.

“It’s a bit strange. I’ve been with these teammates for almost two years and saying goodbye was a bit emotional and strange, even though I maybe didn’t show many emotions… But they welcomed me incredibly well from the moment I arrived, both on and off the pitch. Players who were here last year and have already left, who I’m still in touch with… Maybe I haven’t said it enough times, but I’m incredibly grateful for the way they welcomed me. I really enjoyed being here and I hope we see each other again,” stressed Eirik Granaas, who admits he is hoping to find “good food” in Porto, being a fan of… kebab. “In Fredrikstad there weren’t as many kebab shops as I would have liked. I hope to have a long career, but it’s going to be tough eating chicken and rice every day,” he joked.

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