2025-03-30, 09:32 AM - Word count: 269
(This post was last modified: 2025-03-30, 09:32 AM by MightyMulder.)
With my first season as a professional footballer coming to a close, it feels a little surreal to look back on it all. If I had to sum it up in one word that word would be acclimation. Moving to Sao Paulo was a surprise at first, I fully expected to be in Paris with the academy team so when I was told I'd be helping the big club off the bench I was excited but more than a little nervous. It was a huge change as well from a cultural and linguistic perspective, and it took me some time to really settle in. But as I've gotten to know the people of Sao Paulo and I've started to learn Portuguese this place begins to feel more and more like home.
On the pitch, it was also very much a matter of acclimation. The jump up in skill level was a little overwhelming at first. Everyone is faster and stronger, more skilled than the best players I'd played up to this point. Coming off the bench definitely helped ease me in a little, and I'm happy I was able to get my first assist this season. No matter what happens in my career I'll always have that moment. Hopefully I can use this season as a spring board and hit the ground running next season by making a few more contributions to the score line. I can feel the development happening, I was quick before but now I'm straight up fast, so hopefully that translates into more opportunities I can capitalize on.
On the pitch, it was also very much a matter of acclimation. The jump up in skill level was a little overwhelming at first. Everyone is faster and stronger, more skilled than the best players I'd played up to this point. Coming off the bench definitely helped ease me in a little, and I'm happy I was able to get my first assist this season. No matter what happens in my career I'll always have that moment. Hopefully I can use this season as a spring board and hit the ground running next season by making a few more contributions to the score line. I can feel the development happening, I was quick before but now I'm straight up fast, so hopefully that translates into more opportunities I can capitalize on.
