Rúben Dias looks back without losing focus on what he still wants to achieve. In a conversation with Canal 11 on the program 'Soltinhos pelo Mundo', the Manchester City center-back revisited his growth from his youth days, the emotional farewell from Benfica, and how he built his leadership – always with the idea that nothing is guaranteed. "When I was a kid, I had dreams but I never imagined this whole scenario. I had the ambition to achieve something extraordinary, but I didn't visualize all of this. In any case, there is still a long way to go," he admitted. "More than thinking I am, at every moment I want to be the best in the world. That has been what has helped me get to where I am and to be where I am. What is hardest is maintaining this level," he added. He recalled his journey from Estrela da Amadora, moving to Benfica, and the youth national teams, to arriving in Manchester: "I started at a small club, Estrela da Amadora, but I achieved everything I needed and got to Benfica. I had my brother in a situation different from mine that made me always value what I achieved. That is, winning titles at Benfica and being part of the national team at all youth levels and in final stages. We're talking about sacrificing my personal life, consciously, from the age of 10. I regret nothing, partly because of what I achieved but also because I became the person I like to be." "This whole process is hard, intense, and demanding, but you reach that moment of transition to a professional team and come to an important conclusion: you had a brilliant journey, but that gives you nothing more than a starting point for this new stage. In essence, you only earned your place for a new race. And that same principle I applied when I arrived at Manchester City: everything I had achieved at Benfica was worth zero. It was just a new starting point. This season is a good example of that. It was a new starting point. We did a rebuilding especially after the Club World Cup. I have been at a very high level, I feel great physically. I had this injury setback and because of that, I start again, as nothing I did in the past guarantees me anything," he stated. After 12 years with the eagle on his chest, his departure from Benfica in 2020 – marked by an emotional speech – continues to touch him. "Every word I say to a teammate or the group is felt. That's why I was emotional…" he confessed, recalling the special affection for Tiago Pinto, the former director of the eagles. Regarding leadership, he explained that it was something that grew "naturally." "Knowing how to recognize the context, having the awareness of when certain messages should be given, being tough when necessary, in a constructive way." Inspired by his father – "always pushing everyone, sending positive messages" – he learned early on to communicate and adapt: "In the main team of Benfica, I realized I had to funnel the information to be more specific, because there were more egos there and it was necessary to interact with everyone." "How do teammates react? At first, there may be that impression that it's just for show, but they quickly realize that I am really like this and that I do what I do because it is essential to win and connect the team. I am aggressive in situations that cannot happen. Many of the messages I convey are individual. We have strong egos because we have strong personalities and players who have already won a lot. When we talk about performance, we are talking about well-being but also about being united for a common goal, and sometimes you can bend the pipe and get them to listen because they also want to win," he concluded.
Benfica Manchester City remains central to this story.
Benfica Manchester City remains central to this story.
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