FC Copenhagen striker Robert spoke to Flashscore about his move from Brazil to Denmark and his life there. The former Cruzeiro academy product arrived in Denmark in August 2023, and the report says he has already scored in the Champions League.
From Pirapora to Belo Horizonte
Robert left Pirapora for Belo Horizonte at the age of 11. Looking back on that turning point, Robert said: "It was very difficult. When you leave a small town for a capital city, in terms of your life and how people accept you, it really feels like another world. But I believe it was important because it helped me develop thick skin. We all know what life as a footballer is like."
On his move to FC Copenhagen, Robert said: "It happened suddenly. If I said there had been several rounds of talks, I would be lying. It just happened. I already had a few other offers also from Cruzeiro, but none caught my attention to the same extent as FC Copenhagen. It took about a week for my agents to tell me that Copenhagen had made an offer and for me to be on a plane."
Settling into life in Denmark
Robert lives with his Brazilian wife. Recalling his first impressions, he said: "The city is really beautiful. Very clean, you know? Those were the first things I noticed. I remember it was around seven o'clock in the evening, still sunny; it was the end of summer."
On the language barrier, Robert said: "I arrived here with zero English, nothing. I could only say 'hello' and 'how are you?', that's all!" He said he can now speak English comfortably.
Discussing winter in Denmark, Robert said: "I think the hardest thing about winter is the darkness. We don't get any sunlight, you know? We go three months without seeing the sun. It gets dark at three in the afternoon and light at nine in the morning, with those cloudy, overcast days. It's kind of depressing, to be honest."
He also said: "My toenail falls repeatedly. It falls off, grows back, falls off again. It just keeps happening."
Cultural differences and time away
Robert said the cultural differences between Denmark and Brazil are enormous and that Europeans are much colder and much more reserved than Brazilians. He said: "They are very polite, but they really are very cold. Very reserved. They like everything to be done just right; you can't step out of line at all."
He also said he is not a big fan of Danish cuisine and feels more at home with Brazilian dishes. Speaking about breaks in his schedule, Robert said: "Whenever we have a little free time, my wife and I often travel to Paris and come back. During the last international break, which was a little longer, we went to Greece."
League standards and fan atmosphere
Robert praised the atmosphere in Danish stadiums and said FC Copenhagen's stadium is always packed. He said: "Our stadium is always packed . Whether we're playing a small or a big team, the fans do not stop singing for a minute. It's beautiful."
He added: "The fans have even called me the Neymar of Copenhagen."
On the Danish Superliga, Robert said: "Only those who play here understand it. Sometimes we play a team from a small town and think, 'It'll be easy'; forget it! The teams are technically good. If you are not switched on, you will concede and you will lose."
Robert is also a Cruzeiro fan since childhood and still follows their matches whenever he can.
