In an interview with the Uruguayan Football Association channel, Sporting CP player Maxi Araujo reflected on his journey from poverty in Montevideo to European football, and spoke about his ambitions for both his club and the Uruguayan national team.

On the days when his family's roof leaked

Araujo said: "The roof was leaking at home, and we had to wake up at dawn. It rained for several days without stopping. The coach helped us by paying to fix the roof. The moment I saw the roof repaired, it was one of the best feelings of my life. I cried. I will always be grateful to him; I'll remember that kindness forever. Life gave me another chance, and that's when everything started."

On the Uruguayan national team

Araujo said: "I really enjoy being here, reuniting with some teammates, and we're always joking around together. Now our head coach is Forlán. We are very proud to have one of the best players in our country's history as our head coach."

Regarding Forlán's expectations and his different roles at Uruguay and Sporting CP

Araujo stated: "The new head coach, Diego Forlán, asks me to play with more freedom, to cut inside from the left wing towards the center, looking for scoring opportunities. Here, I play more as a winger and also move into midfield. At Sporting CP, I play more as a left-back. But I try to push forward towards goal as much as possible to create more scoring chances."

On Suárez

Araujo said: "When his image appeared on the big screen in the stadium, everyone started cheering. I looked at the screen, and that feeling was incredible. I had spent time with him before, and he treated me like his own son. He is my idol."

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