In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Joao Mario talks about his negative relationship with the Inter fans and says that he wants to try to heal the divide.
“I want to change the fan’s whistles into applause, it’s always difficult when your fans whistle you but I can understand why. I think there is a problem of my body language, and that sometimes it seems negative. This is something that I have to improve on as I have the desire to give my best because there are no excuses for a poor attitude: that is what has to change.”
On trying to win back a spot in Spalletti’s team, Joao Mario adds: “I’m calm, I’m working well and I’m available to Spalletti, I’m just waiting for an opportunity to help the team. There are no problems with the coach, the players or the club, and the most important thing now is to reach my maximum form so I can give my contribution.
“Preferred Role? I think I’m better in the middle because further forward or on the wing you need someone that scores a lot and this is not really my strength as I’m more suited to making the team play. I prefer to play in the middle of the field, even if I played on the wing for my national team.”
The former Sporting Lisbon player has clarified his point of view on the controversy that came about after the interview he released some time ago, in which he said he did not want to return to Milan:
“When I spoke about the problems of my experience at Inter, I was badly interpreted by those who interviewed me, my first year at Inter was not easy, it was my first experience outside of Portugal and in that season the team had changed a lot.”
At the end of the interview, Joao Mario talks about the decision to leave Milan on loan to go to West Ham: “When I chose to go away last winter, it’s only because I did not want to risk losing the chance to play at the World Cup, not because there were problems in relationships. I’m more mature than when I arrived, I have had a great relationship with the group from day one, in particular Miranda, D’Ambrosio, Handanovic and Perisic helped me a lot to settle in and I am trying to get myself ready to give the best possible answer on the pitch when I am called upon.”
