Football has changed his life; from childhood difficulties to his time spent at Fiorentina. All of this has been achieved through hard work, dedication, love, and passion. Igor Julio reveals all.

FOOTBALL

"For me, football is all about love and passion. It’s everything to me.

Football is a key part of my life.

From a young age all I wanted to do was play football, and I’m so grateful now that I’m a professional.

Football has always been my life."  

IGOR AS A CHILD

"I grew up in a small town called Bom Sucesso in the state of Minas Gerais, and my family are ordinary and straightforward.

I always wanted to become a footballer to change my family’s life and make my dream of playing for a big team at the highest level come true.

I went through a lot of difficulties but I never gave up; I got help from God.

I’m so grateful to be where I am today."

FAMILY

"As for the bond I have with my family, if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be who I am.

It’s thanks to them that I’m here at Fiorentina. My mum and dad moved heaven and earth for me.

We had so many difficulties such as a lack of money; we didn’t always have a nice and quiet life. We’ve been through so much.

But I’m grateful; my family mean the world to me.

They really motivate me as well."

DIFFICULTIES FACED GROWING UP

"I’m not ashamed of it; rather I take pride in it.

“In the team I used to play for back home sometimes we’d have matches away from home and the coach would ask us to contribute to travel costs. But in my family we had no money; my parents told me that I couldn’t go. I cried a lot and was in a real state; when you’re a kid you don’t really know what’s going on. I wanted to go and I wanted it there and then but it wasn’t possible.

Sometimes we didn’t have enough money to eat meat; we only had rice, beans, and vegetables. It was a really difficult time.

But I’m grateful for all of this: I’ve seen what life is all about and that you need to work hard to earn money."

THE LIFE OF A FOOTBALLER

"My life went from water to wine, as we’d say in Brazil.

My life has changed, and in turn that of my family’s, and that’s all I ever wanted: to work hard to change their lives.

My mum and dad gave me everything they could and I’m so grateful to them.

But I can go even further and earn more and do more for them." 

CHANGES

"Changes and happiness go hand-in-hand.

My relationships with friends and family haven’t changed just because I earn more money; they’re just happy for me.

They’ve seen everything I did to get to where I’ve got to; they saw me as a kid when I was a nobody. Now I’m playing at this level for Fiorentina in Serie A.

They’re over the moon for me, and wherever I go I think of them." 

RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS WIFE

"We’re young; I’m 24 and she’s 21.

She’s a gift from God. The life of a footballer is that you come across honest women but also those who are only there for the short term and just want you because you’re a footballer.

I’m so grateful to have her. She’s from my hometown and already knew my family. She’s given me so much and I’ve learnt a lot from her.

Every day with her is special. I can talk to her about anything. She’s by my side in both the bad and good times.

I know she’ll be there when I need her. When I’ve struggled here at Fiorentina she was there for me.

She’s my life and a big part of me."

FRIENDSHIPS WITHIN FOOTBALL

"I’ve got friendships both since I became a footballer and before. 

I’ve got friends from childhood who saw where all of this started for me and others who I’ve met along the way. True friends stay with you for life. There aren’t many people like that.

You get false friends in any walk of life or job. In this world there are good and bad people. I’ve had friends who then chose another path in life.

Thanks to my family and what I’ve learnt from my mum and dad I’ve always been relaxed and kept my feet on the ground, focused on doing what I do.

There are real and fake friends, but it depends on you, how you approach it, and which path you choose to go down." 

RELATIONSHIP WITH ALFRED DUNCAN

"He joined Fiorentina at the same time as I did.

He’s a true friend, one of those friends you make through football who are authentic. I’ve said to my wife that Alfred is a friend who God gave me.

I’m Brazilian and he’s Ghanaian. It’s a true friendship; we’re always together, we talk about anything and everything.

When I wasn’t playing a lot he would speak to me, and when he was going through a rough patch and playing less I’d always be by his side, telling him that he could improve and if he gave that little bit more his chance would come.

That’s what true friendship is all about: being there in both the good and bad moments. To tell them what they’re capable of and how far they can go. I’ve been like that with him.

I always want him close to me. He’s a true friend and now he’s like part of my family." 

FOR HERE

"This I learned from Duncan. 

It’s a lyric from a Ghanaian song. I love music from Ghana and how people dance there.

Once he showed me this song and the gesture (points downwards) and then we started doing it together. We’ve got a handshake which ends with ‘For Here.’

The name of the song is ‘Na Today’ by Okese1". 

GOD

"God means everything to me.

This comes from my father and my family as a whole.

I think that without God we wouldn’t be anything. Since I was a child my dad taught me to pray every day and always be grateful to God for everything.

I’ve always said that God is the reason I’m here in Florence; my family has played a huge role too.

I give my all to God and he shows me the path I ought to follow.

Without God I wouldn’t be anything."   

SACRIFICES

"This makes me really proud.

I grew up in a small town. Nobody else from where I’m from has become a professional footballer. I’ve gone through so many difficulties in my life, but as my dad has always said if you’ve got a dream you should fight to make it come true.

Since I was a child I’ve always wanted to play football and make it to the top, playing for a big team. I’ve worked hard to make this happen.

Some days it would rain and I’d go to training on my own, and some days I made arrangements with friends to go to training but then they wouldn’t come.

For a while I played for a team far from my hometown and everyone would go home, but I couldn't because I couldn't afford it. This makes you stronger. It makes you think you really want to make it. Maybe for some they are simple sacrifices, but for me they weren't.

I saw so many people choose other paths. I saw friends go clubbing, and I stayed home. Some friends would go on a weekend away or stay at a friend's house, but I stayed at the training centre. Some didn't want to train, and I did it both in the morning and the afternoon.

These are sacrifices I’ve made and I still make to this day; they make me stronger.

The sacrifices I’ve made have set an example for the children from my hometown and my family. This makes me happy.

If I had my time again I’d make the same sacrifices."

BOM SUCCESSO

"People didn't use to make a fuss but a lot has changed since I joined Fiorentina.

When I go back to my town now lots of kids come round to my house asking for a photo – lots of people want to have a photo with me.

Lots of people ask me how I got where I am or, when they see my mum or dad, they say, 'Igor has become so good – he deserves everything he gets!'

So much has changed. Now people in my city look up to me as a role model. What I think is, it doesn't mean what you have; how far you go depends on you alone. Not just in football;  in everything.

It's hard for people in a city like mine to dream big. But it all depends on you." 

MOVING TO EUROPE

"It was difficult to get used to things at first - the language, the food, the people, the cold. Very difficult. 

But I've always tried to settle in quickly. I spent three years in Austria. The first six months there were tough but then I adapted. I brought my family here and they helped me a lot.

I've grateful for everything I learnt there. When you leave your country, you have to adjust to a different culture. 

I tried to do it quickly and then I became settled." 

BRAZIL

"Brazil is my country, my life, and I really miss it.

My family and my city especially are what I miss most.

“I love being in Brazil and I can't wait to go back." 

BRAZILIAN FOOTBALL

"I like Brazilian football. Football there is quite different to European football. I've learnt loads in Europe. In Brazil it's more fun but in Europe there's a different intensity, intelligence and ability.

I used to like playing in Brazil but now that I've been playing in Europe for years I'm very happy.

I've learnt lots of things here I wouldn't have learnt if I'd stayed in Brazil."

POSITION

"I haven't always been a defender. Until the age of 16 I used to play in midfield. Then one game my coach played me at centre-back. I had a superb game and never returned to midfield. 

I was instantly comfortable there and never looked back."

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

"I'm grateful to Italiano for noticing my ability and the work I put in week in week out.

I'm constantly trying to improve myself. I try to keep make sure I'm always ready mentally because your chance can come when you least expect it. I know things change very quickly in football.

I had a couple of difficult years in Florence, not that I wasn't happy, but in football there are things beyond your control. You have to work hard and wait for your opportunity.

I'm grateful now because I'm getting everything I was waiting for: consistency and regular games. The more you play the more you improve.

I try to keep improving my game. I want to become a really top defender. 

I know I still have a long way to go but I'm happy with how things are going."

COACH ITALIANO

"I can say that Italiano has changed my life.

From the moment he arrived, he started telling what I needed to change and where I needed to improve. I'm the sort of person who listens to everyone, even those younger than me. I'm always looking to see if I can learn something.

The coach has always spoken to me a lot. He told me what he wanted and what I had to work on.

I always put everything I have into improving." 

REPAYING PRESIDENT AND CLUB

"First of all, to sign me from SPAL for Fiorentina after I'd only been in Italy six months was a huge display of belief in me by directors Barone and Pradè and President Commisso. I'm grateful for that.

When I joined Fiorentina, a club I used to watch on TV, I told myself that I needed to work even harder to repay the club for believing in me.

I want to show the president and the club how grateful by giving my all on the pitch."  

RELATIONSHIP WITH THE FANS

"I swear I've never seen anything like here in Florence – it's different. I'm very happy here.

When you come to Florence and see the fans, they make you feel important.

You can play anywhere but when you're in Florence and you play for Fiorentina there's something different about it. 

When you go to matches or training, I see fans greeting you, hugging you, asking for photos. It's different somehow.

I'm very happy about the relationship I have with fans in Florence. They have a place in my heart."  

FREE TIME

"I relax a lot. I play on the PlayStation with my brother or just spend time with my family. I like just relaxing.

I don't like going out. I like to stay at home and chat with friends or play FIFA or Call of Duty.

I like relaxing at home."  

THAT STEPOVER

"I did that stepover against Salernitana. I don't actually know what I was trying to do!

I remember picking up the ball. I look around and couldn't see anyone. I thought I'd run with it and if anyone comes over I'll pass him the ball. I started doing stepovers, then the opponent took the ball off me. Thankfully it went out.

But then the coach, [Lucas] Torreira, [Jose] Callejon, [Nikola] Milenkovic and others all starting shouting at me, 'What are you playing at?!'

I thought to myself. 'What was I doing?ì At the start the fans were like 'Woah' but when I lost the ball it was, 'What's he up to?!'

A few days later, the coach called me over in training and said to me me, joking, 'If you do that again,  you won't play again.' I told him I wouldn't and he replied saying, joking aside, that I'd played well and I should keep it up.

It can happen. I know in that situation what I mustn't do in midfield. I've learnt the lesson."

LEARNING FROM TEAM-MATES

"We can always learn new things, from everyone – from great players and less great players.

I try to pick things up from everyone in training and in matches, both team-mates and opponents. It makes you a better, smarter player.

You have to know when to recognise that someone is better than you. And if you want to become better than him, you need to start doing what he does.

I've learnt from lots of team-mates. I could name them all but I'll only mention Torreira. It's not just because his experience of playing in the Premier League and the Liga, for two great teams; it's the way he plays, his intelligence, his desire. He's incredible.

Up until a few years ago, small players would struggle but with him it makes no difference. When he steps out there, it's like he's playing for his life. He's smart on the ball and when he doesn't have it know where he needs to be at the right time. He's a top-class footballer, an international player who's played at World Cups, but he's also admirably down-to-earth.

I always watch him and try to learn from him. He's an example to follow. He's still young but he has this mindset and hunger in every training session and match. He gives 100% all the time.

He's exemplary in everything he does."

IDOLS

"My idol as a kid was Ronaldinho, then [Lionel] Messi. They're my two biggest football idols.

The player I watch most now is [Virgil] van Dijk, the Liverpool defender. He's become the best defender in the world. You can see that just by watching him for one game.

I try to learn from his intelligence, his positioning. I try to watch him all the time so I can become a better player myself."

CYCLING

"I've been using a bike since I was at SPAL. I used to ride three kilometres to training and back when I was there. 

I've loved cycling ever since I was a kid. In my city I used to go to training on foot – that was four kilometres. It's never been a problem for me. I bought my dad his first car when he was more than 40.

We're used to walking and cycling everywhere. The bike actually helped me a lot as I lived a long way from SPAL's training ground. I'm closer here in Florence but I'm trying to get my driving licence. 

A bike is a companion for life."

WORKING OUT

"The secret is to never stop working on it. You must never think you're fine as you are. You must always think you can do more.

There have been days when I was dead tired, mentally and physically, but I trained anyway – I did personalised work on my own.

That's what makes the difference. I didn't get bigger because I drank something or worked out too much in the gym. 

Some people have a natural predisposition but I started working out when I was 15 and never stopped. I trained and then worked in the gym.

What you do at home is crucial too – it's not just at the training ground. When we train in the morning, I work at home in the afternoon, and vice versa. 

If you work hard and do something different every day, you get results."

INTERVIEWS

"I recently told me wife that I don't want to do interviews anymore.

I'm asked a question and I answer it one way then the journalist will change it. That's happened more than once. You have to be careful in interviews." 

DEALING WITH PRESSURE

"I used to be more scared, when I was 16-17 in Austria. But I think the main thing is to stay focused on your job. If you're focused on the pitch, what's going on around you won't distract you. You see people around but all your attention is on the pitch.

Nowadays when we play away in front of a big crowd, it fires me up, makes me want to put in a great performance.

When you start playing in the first team, you do feel the pressure. You can't say you don't. I know how to deal with it now.

When you're young, you play in front of 500 people perhaps then you move into the first team and you're playing in front of 20, 30, 50 thousand.

The key is staying focused. If you're focused, you don't see what's going on around you." 

BEING SERIOUS

"You have to know how to be serious. It's a sign of a strong character. 

I'm serious but I smile all the time. I joke and mess about too. It depends.

I try to consider everything going on around me. 

There's a time for everything – a time to be serious, to keep quiet, to laugh." 

IGOR IN 20 YEARS

"Me at 44? I think I'll be in Brazil relaxing. Hopefully I'll still be working in football. Not as a coach, but maybe as an agent, and helping the kids in my city.

I hope to be healthy, to lead a calm life and make up for all the time I'll have spent away from my family and friends.

I hope to spend time relaxing at the beach." 

Interview by Vieri Capretta