I was four years old when I started at my first football school. It was run by Marcelino Carioca, who played for Corinthians, and later Cesar Sampaio, another great player. They both played for the national team also, and they were inspiring for me when I started. I met one of my best friends, Gustavo, at that school. We were eight. We grew up together thinking about football. He became a professional too, in Brazil, and later lived with me in London.

But my great memories from that early period were with my father. Every day he brought me to the football pitch near my home and got me working on my left foot, right foot, control, everything. I remember many times I would kick the ball far away, and my Dad would run after it to get it back for me. He would pick me up after work. He did everything for me, and also my Mum was so important. I remember just enjoying playing football so much.

I never thought ‘oh I am good or I have made it’. My Dad taught me the philosophy to try to improve every day. I have done that every day up to now. You can have different managers, different styles of football, different teams. In football you grow fast and so you have to have the ability to try to improve yourself every day.