WATCH OUT FELIPE’S ABOUT!
Forest tough man doesn’t take prisoners... just ask Mane and Foden!
NEW Nottingham Forest recruit Felipe has warned he is bringing Diego Simeone’s “warrior” spirit to the City Ground.
The 32-year-old centrehalf has joined Steve Cooper’s (below) growing band of boys from Brazil – relishing the kind of aggro that saw him spark a Champions League brawl and his sending-off after a challenge on Manchester City’s Phil Foden.
And a hack at Sadio Mane’s ankles during a tussle with the Argentinian’s side earned the defender another red card.
Asked whether the dark arts will be on show, Felipe was happy to confirm that, yes, they will.
He said: “I think Simeone really does have that, it’s a characteristic rooted in his Argentinian background – they are warriors – they have desire and a lot of grit.
“I really like that and I have it in my game, too.
“With Simeone, there is a lot of focus on the defence and I learnt a lot from him.
“That’s why I wanted to come here. This football has characteristics that will suit me. I’ve been playing in Europe for some time now, so my adaptation happened a long time ago. It will be easier for me, rather than someone coming from Brazil. It will be difficult for them because the intense and physical nature will be new.
“I’m already feeling this difference, but I do think it will be easier for me.”
Asked about the rumpus with Manchester City’s star last season and his blatant professional foul on Mane, he added: “It’s a very competitive competition – we all know what the Champions League is like.
“The intensity is similar to the Premier League, so you can expect similar from me, that’s the way I play.
“Sometimes we all make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but that’s my style.
“I have a lot of strength. I’m going to challenge strongly.
“These are my characteristics – and it’s what people love about football all over the world.”
Felipe’s move to England has been helped by the fact that he played with fellow Samba star Renan Lodi at
Atletico. Their families are close. The arrival, too, of fellow Brazilians Gustavo Scarpa and midfielder Danilo will also help. Felipe, whose demeanour suggested nothing of the menace of which he spoke, added: “When I was 18, I thought about giving up football.
“So I went to work with my mother-in-law, selling mushrooms to restaurants.
“I got up at 3.40am, I’d do my deliveries. I’d stop at 1pm or 2pm and then, in the afternoon, I would sell clothes and then, after that, I’d be studying.
“I think that was a great experience for me because today I really value things differently. I also didn’t have a background in youth-team football.
“Some had been involved with clubs since the age of seven or eight.
“I didn’t have that. I was on the street, selling mushrooms so, thanks to that experience, I think I can look at things a little differently.”