crinkly_ears | The Portuguese Appreciation Post

The Portuguese Appreciation Post

Doubtless many of us have noticed how well Mesut Özil gets along with his Portuguese and Portuguese speaking teammates.

Two of them have already provided us with the gif like none other - the gif that may never be equalled for sheer adorableness. The moment occured during the game against Malaga - Ronaldo's hair ruffling and Carvalho's kisses - and what could be better?

As an aside, that game was also "Mesut Özil's Coming Out Party" where friend-to-this-community Ray Hudson was concerned. It was the first time he was recorded using the phrase "Avatar eyes" - along with "twinkle toes" "little Özil" "wonderful eyes, projecting 'round" "the rub a' the green" and "he's brilliant that's what he is". In fact, Ray couldn't restrain himself even when Mesut was switched off: "Canales is good, but he hasn't got the silky smooth touch of a Mesut Özil!"

Cristiano Ronaldo

Of course Mesut's relationship with Ronaldo, and their mutual admiration of each other as players, is already quite famous - and is covered comprehensively in the German press. Ronaldo said, after his first game, that Özil's Spanish comprehension was of absolutely no concern since "he speaks the language of football."

And when asked who he thought should win the Ballon D'or this year for 2010), Ronaldo demurred. He did however state that he thought "Mesut Özil will win it in the future."

Mesut in the mean time has been cheerfully telling anyone who will listen that Ronaldo is "a very nice boy, just a wonderful person and anyone can see we understand each other really well on the pitch" and that he tells "the best jokes." The result, incidentally, is that Ronaldo's reputation has received a lift in Germany. Sami Khedira's constant praise of him doesn't hurt either.

Marcelo & Pepe

There are two more Portuguese speakers (and pranksters) on the team though who are very close to Mesut - Pepe and Marcelo. Both of them have been marvellous friends in every way. Mesut himself has noted in an interview that he spends a lot of time going out to eat with Higuain and Marcelo and that Marcelo likes to imitate the way people talk "but he hasn't yet tried to imitate me."

Here we have the best kind of fan video - the warm up against Racing Santander, as recorded by a darling fan!

Mesut skips (literally) onto the screen at 0:20 seconds.

He exchanges passes with Marcelo at 0:33. The ball hits his foot and he mimics with his hands what he knows the ball is going to do before hitting it back - while smiling all the while at Marcelo! It's quite adorable. It's also a little uncanny and might explain why his first touch is so perfect - he knows precisely what the ball will do based on how it hits his foot.

At 1:14 - he exchanges passes with chief-bromantic-interest Sami! Look for the blue boots! Classy back-heel action from Sami at 1:16 - who knew?

Following that they both walk towards Pepe and Marcelo. Mesut gives his Paul McCartney thumbs up and Pepe gives Sami a cuddle.

To give this Portuguese-love-in some context - we have an article in Mesut's inescapable destiny (Berlin based Bild Zeitung) from around the same time which quoted Pepe rather extensively. The press was very interested in Mesut and Sami's Spanish comprehension (after Mourinho's comments about it were taken completely out of context) and Pepe was happy to fill in the gaps.

Real Star Mesut Özil: Pepe and Marcelo Are His Friends At Madrid
From Bild Zeitung
Translated by me,

jenny_jenkins

With his starting eleven Debut against CA Osasuna (1-0), Mesut Özil was switched off to a standing ovation

After some initial social difficulties since joining the Royals, the Ex-Bremer has played his way into the hearts of his teammates. Özil has made friends with Pepe (27) and Marcelo (22) and doesn't only hang out with Sami Khedira (23) any more.

Star-Trainer Jose Mourinho (47) had said of Khedira and Özil that "Their social life with the team is zero. Their integration is difficult."

But that's over now! Pepe: "Marcelo and I are looking after him (Özil). We have fun all day long!" The Portuguese National Team Player is quite certain that Ozil will soon be speaking Spanish and that he will be integrated smoothly into the team. "The language barrier is of course difficult, but we all help him out. Ozil is feeling better with us every day!"

No one criticizes his football skills. World Champion Sergio Ramos (24): "Özil is the kind of player you just have to give the ball to." His new friend Pepe shares in the amazement: "This was an incredible transfer. The Bernabeu loves him already. With his qualities we're going to have so much fun together!"

The ex-Werder-star has only received the highest praise from his new friends. Cristiano Ronaldo (25), World footballer of 2008, is thrilled with his new playing mate. "Özil has the most important thing...he speaks the language of football."

Ronaldo is absolutely certain: "We'll improve step for step together. He has to win his self-confidence and I am certain he'll bring Real Madrid success."

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Marcelo and Pepe were also particularly affectionate on Mesut's birthday - Marcelo giving him a particularly exuberant hug while Pepe looked on approvingly!

And remember Mesut's first goal?

To whom did he run first? His new friend Marcelo of course - who grabbed him and gave him a kiss! As the other players crowded around him to congratulate him Pepe leaned forward with particular affection.

And of course - who can forget the fabulous free kick against Atleti and the way they whispered sweet nothings into his ear when he scored!?

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Jose Mourinho

The Special One himself!

Mesut's fans all over the world breathed a sigh of relief when the transfer went through because Mourinho put our minds at rest by gleefully informing the press that he was thrilled to have got his new signing (on the very, very cheap) because "we couldn't miss out on Ozil" and making it clear that he had asked the club for him.

We breathed a sigh of relief because Mourinho would never have asked for a player he didn't intend to use!

Among Mourinho's most quotable quotes:

On Mesut's debut: "Mesut Ozil is already looking like a player for Real Madrid for the next 10 years." (this is a comment Mourinho makes often).

On his performance after thrashing AC Milan: "Ozil is magic, and when you have magic behind magic - when you have magic behind di Maria, Higuain and Ronaldo...that's something!"

And only one week ago: "Ozil has a lot of responsibility with us and with Germany, who are an important national team. He responds well to this. He stands out for the ease he has to assimilate new things. He played in Di Maria's position today and the way he covered open spaces made it look like it was his natural position. He will be a fantastic player for Real Madrid for ten years. He has won us all over, fans and team alike."

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Muito obrigado to our Portuguese darlings!

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Originally Posted, February of 2011