Renato Veiga, a 23-year-old Portuguese defender, has finally found some stability at Villarreal, where he begins his second consecutive season with the same club. In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, the player expressed satisfaction with the Spanish environment and reiterated his desire to stay longer, tired of the constant travel that characterized his European career.
Over the past few years Veiga has progressed through the top leagues of Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, England, Italy and Spain, playing for clubs such as Porto, Hoffenheim, Basel, Chelsea, Juventus and now Villarreal. After the defeat against Borussia Dortmund on the first day of the Champions League, the defender underlined that the team had undergone a change of coach and renewed its ambitions. "We have changed coach and renewed our ambitions. It is true that we started with a defeat against Dortmund but the team is improving and we are ready to play against Napoli", he declared, indicating the next match as an opportunity to demonstrate the improvement.
Veiga recalled with particular pleasure his loan spell at Juventus, where he enjoyed success in both the league and the Champions League. “I had a great time in Turin and playing for Juve is something special,” he said, even though he had to face a turbulent season with the move from Thiago Motta to Igor Tudor. The most vivid memory is the victory against PSV, his only personal success in the Champions League, which he defined as "the only success of his career in the competition".
The previous season at Villarreal was far from positive, with only one point won and seven defeats, despite a decisive goal in the 90th minute against Juventus. Veiga closed that chapter with the phrase “That is the past”, underlining the desire to change gear and focus on the future.
With the Champions League still in sight and the desire to redeem himself, the defender is preparing for the match against Napoli, believing that the team is gaining rhythm and cohesion. The next match represents an opportunity for him to demonstrate the value of Villarreal and to get closer to a new milestone in his European career.