Ferro: “Croats are like the Portuguese”

Francisco Ferreira, known in football as Ferro, got his first experience in Croatia in 2022, on loan from Benfica. He liked it so much that a year later, after a stint at Vitesse (Netherlands), he returned to stay. “They wanted me to come back, and because I was happy during the six months I was here, I eventually accepted the invitation,” he tells us, speaking to Europa Viva reporters in Riva, one of the most famous cities. Districts of Split. The proposition was irrefutable: combine athletic achievements with personal happiness. “The city is wonderful, peaceful and we can walk freely on the street, day and night, without any problems, and as you can see, it is a fantastic city,” he asserts, pointing his finger towards the Adriatic Sea.

Ferro, 27, feels right at home. “Croatians are like the Portuguese and welcome those who come from abroad, which is very good. Hajduk Split fans are passionate on match days, but on the street they know how to distinguish between the professional and the personal, which for me is great,” he adds. And we proved this, first when we sat on the terrace and drank coffee with a Portuguese football player, and later when we walked along the pier. “Now the avenue is quiet and we can be calm. In summer this is impossible. Firstly, because of the heat, because it’s very hot here, 37 or 38 degrees…,” says Ferro. “But the water is also hot,” we interrupted. “Yes, that’s good (laughs). Very hot. In the summer there are three times more people in the city,” he guarantees.

Tourists come and go, but the residents of Split are also fans of Hadjuk. And by the way, a little about Benfica, given the connection between Torsida Split and the No Name Boys, which began in 1994, when three Reds fans, Gullit, Tino and Rita, were killed in a road accident Fernandez. on the way back to Portugal after a game between two Champions League teams. Since then, authorities have investigated incidents of violence involving two fans and, most recently, a dispute over FC Porto stripes stolen from the club’s museum and burned in the stands of the Hajduk Split stadium.

Ferro, a former Benfica player, prefers to highlight the positive side of the connection. “I have already met several Benfica fans here who come here to be with the fans from Hajduk Split. And whether you play home or away, we have Benfica scarves and there are also some references to the club in the city, which is great,” he adds. Benfica is in his heart.

What happened at Benfica?

In 2019, Ferro moved from Benfica B to the main team. He established himself as a starter alongside Ruben Diaz, became a champion and was called up to the national team. Loans to Valencia, Vitesse and Hajduk Split followed before the final sale to the Croatian club. What’s happened?

“The pandemic hit and performances started to deteriorate as my fitness may not have been the best when I came back. There was a change of coach and Jorge Jesus never invested much in me – and that’s part of the problem. some injuries… It’s not worth it. It’s worth looking back,” explains Ferro. There is only one regret left. “I spent many years at Benfica, I don’t think anyone has anything to point out to me, but a word of attention would be nice. I don’t hold grudges, I I was just a little sad. But it’s water under water. A bridge,” he adds.

Single currency simplifies accounts

Croatia joined the single currency in 2023 and made Ferro’s life easier from his first (the currency was called the kuna) to his second stay in the country. “A lot of the time I had to use my cell phone to do the conversion because it wasn’t easy,” he recalls. And joining the Schengen zone also helped. “When you first came to Croatia, you had to go through passport control, which doesn’t happen now. Now you can move freely,” Ferro guarantees, drawing attention to this year’s European elections. “If there are no practices or games, I will vote,” he says.