Bernardo Ribeiro has indicated his desire to help the Jets become a major force in the A-League this coming season.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets recruit Bernardo Ribeiro has wasted no time setting his sights on winning an A-League Championship with his new Club.
Speaking exclusively to Jets TV upon his arrival in Australia, Ribeiro indicated his desire to help the Jets become a major force in the A-League this coming season.
“I have come here to win,” he said.
“I-m here to do my best for the Club, for the fans and for Newcastle. I will do my best, I will play strong and I will train strong.
“I hope to show very good technique and score many goals here and make a very good impression for (the fans).”
The attacking midfielder comes to Newcastle with an impressive footballing pedigree as a graduate of the youth system of world-famous Brazilian Club Flamengo.
“I was at Flamengo for 10 years of my life and I played in the first team,” he explained.
“Then I had the chance to go to Italy with Catania and I was there for six months.
“After that I changed to Albania where we won the Championship and I played in the play-offs for the Champions League against Apoel. It was a very good opportunity and a very good experience for me.
“Now I-ve come to Newcastle and I hope to win (the Championship) again because I won with Flamengo and I won in Albania, so now I-ll do my best to win here.”
The 22-year-old said his knowledge of Australian football consisted mostly other Brazilians who have plied their trade in the A-League.
“I know (Mario) Jardel played here and he is one big player from Brazil and they have good players here like Tiago who is another Brazilian,” he explained.
“I know the coach is a very good coach and I have very good information about the Club and about the fans.
“For these reasons I-ve come (to Newcastle) and I-m very happy here.”
With his new teammates having been in pre-season training for two-and-a-half months, Ribeiro said he has been keeping his own fitness levels up by training in Italy.
“I feel good, I was in Italy training with one Club there and I-m very good physically,” he said.
“I think I just need to train with the ball, because physically I-m OK, but I need to train with the ball and I think in one week I will be 100 per cent.”
Ribeiro said his first impressions of the city of Newcastle had been extremely positive.
“I-m very happy to come here, I-m very happy in this fantastic city,” he said.
“I know about Australia, but it is my first time here and really I am very happy to sign here.
“It-s a big opportunity for me to play for a very good Club in Australia and in a fantastic city.”
