Gustavo Assuncao: “I want to help Apollon achieve it goals”

Gustavo Assunção is the latest addition to Apollon’s squad and arrives in Limassol aiming to strengthen the team’s midfield. The Brazilian midfielder speaks about his first impressions, his playing style and his ambitions with Apollon.

Welcome to Apollon. What are your first thoughts after joining the club?
I am very happy to be here. I saw the club, the facilities and I met the people of the team. I met the coach, the president and the staff, and everyone feels like a family. That gave me a very good feeling.

What are your impressions of the club?
Everything is top level. The facilities, the training centre and the stadium are excellent. The president showed me a lot of trust, and so did the coach. I feel very happy with this project.

Did the coach speak to you about your role on the pitch?
Not something specific yet. I will try to do my best to help the team achieve its goals. That is the most important thing for me.

What convinced you to say “yes” to Apollon’s offer?
I spoke with the director and the coach and they explained the project and the club’s planning. I saw the team, the results and the way they play football. I saw that the team was winning games and I wanted to come here to help them continue winning.

Why did you decide to leave your previous club?
Because I saw a very good and ambitious project here. It is a big club with big goals, and for me it is a great opportunity to grow and help the club achieve those goals. We want to fight for titles and play in Europe.

At a very young age you were considered one of the most promising talents, with a high sporting and market value. What do you think was behind that rapid rise?
I think it was many factors. I played for Brazil’s U17 and U23 national teams alongside top talents like Vinícius and Rodrygo, and at Famalicão I had an important role from a very young age, even as captain. The club and the coach trusted me, and that gave me a lot of confidence. Age influences the way people see you, but at that time I was in very good form. Today I feel like a different player – more mature, with more experience and a better understanding of the game.

What did you gain from your experience at Galatasaray and in Portugal?
I loved my time at Galatasaray, the city and the people. Sometimes in football things don’t go as planned, but every experience helped me grow. At AVS it was also an ambitious project with big names, but that is football.

Do you think these experiences will help you adapt faster in Cyprus?
Yes, for sure. My family is also with me, so adaptation is not a problem for me.

What did you know about Apollon and the Cypriot league before coming here?
I knew some players who played in Cyprus, like Pepe, Anderson, Vana and Marques, who were teammates of mine in the past. It has been some years since we last spoke, and I will be happy to see some of them again. But I knew the league and the level.

How did Pedro Marques welcome you?
He was very happy to see me. He joked that I didn’t call him before coming. He is the captain now and very important for the team. I hope I can help him score more goals.

How would you describe your playing style?
I am a player who likes to control the game. I like to have the ball, control the tempo and play long and short passes. Defensively I play with intensity and aggression, and I like to help the team. My job is to make the team play better.

Do you prefer to play as a No.6 or No.8?
For me there is no problem. As a No.6 or No.8, I feel comfortable.

If you had to describe yourself in three words?
Son of God.

What are your personal goals with Apollon?
I don’t like to set big personal targets. I live game by game, day by day. The most important thing is to win the next game and then the next one.

Why did you choose the number 12?
Because of my father. He played with number 12 at Atlético Madrid and I always play with this number, except for one season when I played with number 6.

What message would you like to send to Apollon fans?
I will work and fight with all my strength to help the club succeed.

Press Office
Apollon Limassol