“Immediately part of the family”

VfL’s training camp in Seefeld is in full swing, with new signing Tiago Tomas already in the thick of the action. The Portuguese has shown no fear since joining the club – not just in Tyrol but during the first week of pre-season training in Wolfsburg – and appears to have settled in seamlessly. In this interview, the technically gifted 21-year-old talks about this exciting period as well as his style of play, strengths and objectives.

Hi Tiago, welcome to the Wolf pack! You’ve already spent a week training with your new club in Wolfsburg, had your first pre-season friendly and completed your first few sessions in Seefeld. What have you made of the last few days? 

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Tiago Tomas: “My first impression is a lot better than I expected. The standard here is much higher than I’ve been used to in the past. My new teammates have really helped me settle in over the first few days and welcomed me with open arms. I immediately felt part of the family and completely settled.”

You last played for Stuttgart on loan. Was it a conscious decision to make a permanent move to the Bundesliga or what was the key factor behind your move to VfL?

Tiago: “I had other options, too. In the end, though, the reason I chose VfL was because of the way the club approached me. I was shown what they want to achieve and the style of football they want to play. And the fact that I already know the Bundesliga was obviously an advantage. All the foundations I wanted for the next step in my career were in place.”

You were born in Lisbon and had played for Sporting since 2014. Despite the fact you’ve been on loan in Germany for 18 months, was it a difficult decision to leave your home country for a longer period?

Tiago: “It obviously wasn’t an easy decision as I grew up in Lisbon. Life goes on, however, and I’m at a stage where I need to prioritise my career. The club will have a place in my heart wherever I go, but the time had come for me to look for a new adventure.”