J:Oni Cardoso (9/20/2001, Denville Township, New Jersey, United States) performs his first year in Spain with Real Betis. The American midfielder, but also of Brazilian origin. MARCA analyzes his moment. Hint:. He is one of the leaders of the green and white club the market is calling. The barely 23-year-old football player is clear about it. Nothing should cause you to deviate from the path even though the destination is written in Seville or somewhere else when it arrives. Put wisdom in your words. Mind beyond football. Does not take false steps showing unusual maturity for that age. He sets himself challenges. He is not intimidated. Rhodri, Kaka, be better at achieving the goal…
ASK: A year in Spain after signing with Betis, how do you assess your 2024 in Spain?
ANSWER: It’s been a very special year, with a lot of learning and evolution, I’ve adapted very well here.
Q How has Johnny improved this year in Europe?
A. I think I gained more experience, I improved both technically and tactically as an athlete and I continue to develop.
Question: Tell me something that surprised you about the Spanish league this year.
– A lot of things surprised me, it’s a very high level league that I’ve always loved and always wanted to play in, that’s why I’ve always followed it, but to have the opportunity to play here is very special.
I have a very calm head, despite the market…
H. Serie A, Premier League teams are watching you… who see you as a player with a lot of room to grow.
A. Not for me, I am very calm about this matter, I try to stay focused on the present and continue to work to help Betis, I leave it to my father and my agent.
P.Pellegrini is a highly respected coach in football who always gets the most out of his players and teams.Can you tell me what the coach asked when you came to Spain a year ago?
A. He is a very experienced technician, he helped me a lot and he gave me a lot of confidence from the beginning, which made my adjustment much easier.
H. And what has improved from a year ago to today?
A. I feel like I’ve improved my game control as well as playing my role better tactically, I’m still working to get better and better.
My provision is terrible, but I don’t think about it too much, I’m a very calm person and I am
H. Your name is always in the market. He is one of the players of “Betis”, which has the best international banner. Do you feel the pressure of being a player followed by many clubs?
A. I feel good, it motivates me more to continue working, developing and striving to achieve big goals.
H. Players have release clauses, in his case it’s 80 million euros. It’s rare for a club to pay that much, but when you see those numbers, are they scared, have you ever thought about that…
A. Yes, these numbers are scary, but I don’t think too much about it, I always try to keep a calm mind.
H. Can you tell me a player you identify with, a player you are inspired by, a player you watch trying to improve?
A. I have Kaka as an idol on and off the pitch, and I have two players who are my inspiration, who I love to watch play, which are Rodri and Busquets.
After scoring a goal with Johnny Betis.
H. And why?What features are you looking to improve?
A. They are players who have a style of play very similar to mine and footballers who have reached the highest level of football. I am always developing, trying to learn from my teammates and these players who inspire me, I think I can improve my presence in the final third a little bit more and I think I can help the team with that as well.
Q: You have been in Spain for a year, how have you noticed this change compared to Brazil? Speed, formation, tactics, intensity…
– I felt a little difference in terms of the tempo of the game, and tactically, the Brazilian championship is also a physically strong championship, but I feel that technically the level is different.
I got some advice that helped me a lot. A classmate told me. “Whatever the moment, enjoy it.”
Q: Can you tell me if there was any advice from a teammate or coach that stuck with you this year and caught your attention?
A. Over the past year I have received some advice that has helped me greatly, the one that stood out to me the most, despite its simplicity, was from a colleague who told me: “Regardless of the moment, enjoy it. The most difficult thing is to control your mind, keep calm and work, because work always pays off.” But just as important as the advice was the confidence my teammates and coaching staff gave me throughout the year since I arrived.
H. What are Betis missing to be a regular team this season?The team can’t seem to establish a pattern of results… between the league and the conference.
A. Betis is in full form to be in the top 5, unfortunately this year we had a lot of injuries that ultimately hurt the team’s sequence and performance, it’s not easy to play 3 matches with a short lineup due to injuries, but. we have a very strong team to fight for big goals.
Johnny Cardoso with the US team.
H. You were born in the USA, but in a Brazilian family. You played internationally with the USA, but tell me. Did you ever get a call from Brazil to play for the team?How and when did you get the call from the USA and why did you decide to play with them?
A. I was born in the United States, but after only 3 months I went to Brazil, I grew up in Brazil and played with the Brazilian national team in the youth categories, but in the end I didn’t go, and soon I started. At the age of 17, I was invited to the American team, I went on to have a series in the national team, and I chose the American team because I always dreamed of defending the flag of the country where I was born, and today I have the privilege and pride of representing my country.