Douglas: “I'm ready to play for FC Barcelona”

“As soon as I saw this shirt I realised how much I am going to have to do here” said the seventh new signing of the season, Brazilian full back Douglas Pereira. He was giving his first press conference since arriving at the club in the Ricard Maxenchs pressroom on Friday evening. “I am very happy to be here in Barcelona to represent Barça” he said. “I’m really looking forward to training with my new team-mates … Since I’ve been here it’s all been on a different level: the city, the club, the stadium...”

Since I’ve been here it’s all been on a different level
He also said “thank you to the club for its confidence in me. Now it’s up to me to do the job. I’ll work with the coach to find my place in the team and then I’ll do whatever he needs of me,” He will start training tomorrow and claims to be over his fitness concerns. “I’m fine, I’ve been training at full strength for the last few weeks” he explained. “I’ll start training and helping my colleagues from tomorrow morning. I’ll show them what I can offer as a player”.

The Brazilian responded to doubts about whether he is up to the standard required of a club like this by saying that “I feel ready. I’ve come here to play football and that’s what I’ll do.” He described the move as making him feel like a child again, saying that “I now have to work to make this dream a reality”.

I’ll show them what I can offer as a player
He will face stiff competition for the right back role from Dani Alves and Montoya, but thinks that competition will only serve to make him stronger. “I’ll speak to Alves to learn everything about this club” he said. “If I can win the titles Alves has won with Barça, I’ll be a happy man … playing for a team like this will make me better as player, because this is the best club in the world.”