Juventus defender Gleison Bremer says he wants to remain at Juventus, despite interest from the Premier League. The 26-year-old made the switch from Torino to the Bianconeri last summer and was one of the highlights of an otherwise disappointing season for the Old Lady. Speaking with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Brazilian international explained why he wants to remain in Turin this summer, because even without European football, ‘Juve is still Juve’, and began by explaining his life outside of football:
“I am a quiet one, I like to be with my family with my wife and daughter. My life is home-work, work-home.”
Bremer, from one summer to the next, what has changed?
“Not much, now I know the team more and everything is easier.”
Is Allegri asking you for something new?
“Last year we played very little with coming out from the back and we are working on that, but above all we are growing in intensity. That was the first thing the coach asked of us.”
What is your personal assessment of last season?
“For me it was positive, I could have done more, however, the first year in Juve at this level was not easy. I’m happy and now I’m not starting from scratch, but with a good wealth of experience and the goal of doing better.”
Speaking of goals: have you already set your personal and team goals for 2023-24?
“As a team we have to improve on last year’s placing considering, as Allegri says, that on the field we had finished third. When you are at Juventus you always hope to win, we are in a building phase and the first step will have to be to get to the Champions League placing, then in the ongoing championship we will see: maybe we can even think about the Scudetto.”
Without Europe, does winning the tricolor become an obligation?
“Having the week off will allow us to focus only on the championship. Two years ago with Torino when we played once a week we had much more time to train. When you go on the field every three days it’s hard: the first month you don’t notice, the second you don’t even notice but from the third you start to feel the fatigue. I played a lot last season, this one will be different because besides Serie A we will only have the Coppa Italia.”
You had also chosen Juve for the Champions League. Is it more the sorrow of not playing in it or the desire to turn the lack of cups into an opportunity?
“There is so much sorrow because the Champions League is the Champions League, however, we have to have a positive attitude because we will have more opportunities to train more and grow. Juve is always Juve, even without Champions.”
Scoring goals is not the first thing you ask of a defender, however, you are used to scoring them. Do you aim to improve in this as well?
“Last year I scored 4 and I would like to score more. My record is 5, I will try to surpass it.”
When you arrived at Juve, you said you were inspired by Chiellini: how do you think you resembles him?
“With Giorgio I talk often, he came to visit us here in training camp. He made the history of Juve. He gave me advice on how to mark man and zone and what to improve. As characteristics we are similar, I feel more a defender like him. Before I took his number, I asked his permission.”
Who was your idol?
“When I started playing I was a midfielder because I wanted to be closer to the goal and score goals. I liked Casemiro, then I started following Thiago Silva and Lucio.”
Without Bonucci, do you defenders feel more responsibility?
“Without a doubt. I talk a lot with Danilo, between Brazilians we understand each other better. There are so many young people and I have to be an example.”
Is Osimhen the most difficult striker to mark in A?
“In Italy yes, in the Champions League I faced Mbappé and Neymar who are not easy to handle. Immobile and Giroud are also troublesome.”
Do you hope Osimhen will stay to challenge him again and maybe take the Scudetto from him?
“(Laughs) This year will be different….”
What was your impression of Milan?
“They had an important transfer market, taking players like Pulisic and Loftus-Cheek. They know how to play the ball, they are good in the tight spaces and have strong strikers. They will fight for the title together with Inter and Napoli, but we are there too.”
Juve has changed little so far, of last year’s teammates who can be the hit of the summer?
“There are youngsters who can grow, from Fagioli to Miretti to Gatti and I’ll throw in myself, who can do more. I will feel satisfied if I can return to the levels of two years ago. Even though I was already in Italy at Juve I needed a year to settle in.”
Transfer Market: are you 100 percent sure you will stay, or if an offer from the Premier would come, would you think about it?
“The Premier League is an important league but I want to stay at Juve, which is the best in Italy. I want to do well here, the future you never know, but as of today I only think about Juve.”
Brazil’s next coach will be an Italian, Ancelotti. Thanks to Juve you won a place in the national team, do you think Allegri will be able to help you become a reference point?
“Certainly. Last year I went to the World Cup as a third/fourth defender but my goal is to become a starter. I have never spoken with Ancelotti yet but I am sure that being Italian he will look at Serie A with different eyes.”
Among your passions is boxing. Does practicing it help in football?
“I trained until my daughter was born, last year I couldn’t do it anymore. Boxing develops foot skills, speed, reaction and concentration. The head for a defender is very important. You have to be able to choose the moment.”
What kind of coach is Allegri?
“One who has a lot to teach tactically. With him I improved and learned things that I have to put even more into practice this year. He is different from Juric, with him we played man-to-man. At Toro I had a great time, in the derby I apologized to him after scoring a goal.”
