SAO PAULO, Aug. 4 (Xinhua) -- Former Brazil international midfielder Hernanes has insisted that he is more motivated than ever to win trophies after joining Sport Recife at the age of 36.
The ex-Lazio, Inter Milan and Juventus playmaker revealed he felt a special bond with the club he supported as a child and the city in northeastern Brazil where he was born and raised.
"I still have dreams and goals to achieve," Hernanes told Globo Esporte. "Before coming here, I thought about which city I would like to live in and my heart said Recife."
Hernanes signed a contract with Sport last month after parting ways with Sao Paulo, where he struggled for opportunities under manager Hernan Crespo.
"I needed a place to show my football and Sport were looking for a player with the qualities that I can offer. It's a good fit at the right time."
Hernanes said he was also enthused at the prospect of reuniting with Sport midfielder Thiago Neves, with whom he clinched a bronze medal for Brazil at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
"I'm a fan, I really admire his football," Hernanes said. "We had 40 days of interaction during the Olympics, but we've also found ourselves playing against each other a lot. Those games were always very difficult. Being able to play alongside him is a privilege that makes the game much easier. But it's up to the manager to decide whether we can both play in the same time."
Hernanes has also had stints with Hebei China Fortune and Santo Andre in a career that has included 27 caps for Brazil's national team. Enditem
