'I was brainwashed by Guardiola, but in a good way'

Danilo, the veteran Brazilian defender now at Flamengo, on why he started a project focused on mental health

- Thiago Rabelo

Few players have had such a diverse and successful career as Danilo. During 13 years in Europe he won league titles in every country he played in - Portugal, Spain, England and Italy - and is now back in Brazil with Flamengo, chasing more trophies and a place in Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old stands out off the pitch too, quitting social media twice for a sustained period over its toxicity, looking back at his younger self wondering why he bought a car he used once a year and wanting to study psychology when he finishes his playing career rather than pursuing a job in coaching.

Danilo is engaging company for more than two hours and has many stories to tell, starting with the Manchester City manager, the man who changed his life. "Pep Guardiola educates his players," the right-back says. "That's the most important thing about his work. He makes all players think about football in the same way. Time, space, movement, possession, taking care of the ball."

"He makes you understand the spaces on the pitch like no other coach and he lives the game emotionally like no other coach," Danilo continues. "I was brainwashed by Guardiola, but in a good way. It was like I was at university. What I experienced with him allowed me to raise my level and keep that level to this day. It's not that I was an idiot before I arrived at Manchester City but I realised that I played football in completely the wrong way. If I had met him before, he would have made my life a lot easier. I'm so glad I was able to play under him and was able to learn from him."

Danilo's comments are a reminder of how influential Guardiola can be, even for players who are some way into their careers. It was not as if Danilo was a novice when he arrived at the Etihad in the summer of 2017. He had already played for Santos in Brazil, Porto in Portugal and Real Madrid in Spain, where he collected two Champions League titles under Zinedine Zidane.