“A planned campaign to kill my character”: Vitor Bruno reacts to “insults and slander”

Vítor Bruno, the object of serious criticism this Friday from other colleagues in the technical team of Sérgio Conceição, which even led the SAD team of FC Porto to publish a statement announcing the initiation of a disciplinary investigation, reacted with a statement on social networks.

Sérgio Conceição’s former assistant rejects the label of a traitor imposed on him and admits that he responded to wrongdoing in a “judicial manner.”

Regarding the departure of Sérgio Conceição’s technical team, Vítor Bruno explained: “A few days before the Portuguese Cup final, which took place on May 26 at Jamor, I was asked about the possibility of coaching a team in the championship as the main event. outside of Portugal, to which my answer was categorical, in the sense that there was an openness to discuss this possibility – there was an obligation to talk about it with the head coach, Sergio Conceição. However, in my humble understanding, it is necessary. This will happen only after the end of the sports season. What happened was, in fact, the matter was discussed in a calm and civilized manner between myself and head coach Sergio Conceicao earlier this week.”

And he continued the reaction of the Porto coach: “Because he fully understood the reasons why I took over the leadership of the team as a senior, he accepted my decision and wished me the greatest success in the end. Therefore, I am currently evaluating various possibilities regarding my professional future, in relation to which I reserve the freedom of choice, the decision being solely mine.”

Read the full statement now:

“As assistant coach of the technical team working with the senior football team A of the Porto football club, in view of the numerous defamatory and slanderous news now published in various media about the alleged “betrayal” of the head coach Sergio Conceiço. – I would like to clarify the following:

It is important from now on that there is no doubt that I never betrayed (“stabbed” in the back, as they cunningly want to suggest) or was in any way disloyal to the head coach. Sérgio Conceição, with whom I have always had the utmost honesty, transparency and honesty, now needs to clarify the truth of the facts.

A few days before the Portuguese Cup final, played on May 26 in Jamora, I gave an interview about the possibility of coaching, first of all, a team in a championship outside of Portugal, to which my answer was categorical, with the feeling that there should be an openness to discuss this possibility – there is an obligation to talk about this with head coach Sergio Conceição –; however (and in my humble opinion, this is necessary) this will happen only after the end of the sports season.

What actually happened – in fact, this topic was discussed on an elevated, calm and civilized level between myself and head coach Sergio Conceicao earlier this week.

Understanding perfectly the reasons why I took the team as my main one, he accepted my decision – and at the end wished me every success. As a result, I am currently evaluating various possibilities for my professional future, regarding which I retain the freedom of choice, the decision being solely my own.

The truth lies in this and only this. Thus, all other narratives that malicious third parties will try to create and implement are riddled with absolute bad faith and completely false. Nothing more than an organized campaign with the sole and stated goal of defaming me, slandering me, trying by all means (and using many actors) to destroy my character, my reputation and my good name, which was created almost two years ago. decades in the world of football, earning – no immodesty – the respect, attention and friendship of everyone I have met, directing my life and the performance of my functions with the greatest rigor, loyalty, dedication and professionalism, using all my knowledge and technical expertise in the implementation of my activities and guiding my conduct – personal or professional – based on the high principles and values ​​that have been instilled in me.

Thanks to the completely undeserved insults and slander of which I have been the target and victim, I feel deeply hurt by seeing my family worried and in daily and constant suffering, although I know that I have done nothing wrong or that this can justify the intended campaign . against me – urgently, as such, to express my direct rejection of the “news” that has now become public knowledge and to which this headquarters is reacting (this, without prejudice to that, in due time and if I consider it necessary and appropriate to protect the honor mine, respond to them in court).

Finally – taking this opportunity – I want to emphasize that none of the “news” that has appeared in recent days, allegedly with reference to people close to me (the so-called “close sources”), represents any truth: I was not offended one bit (I would supposedly considered this fact a “betrayal”, which is completely untrue) due to the fact that head coach Sergio Conceicao extended his contract with Futebol. Clube do Porto, and not the rest of the technical team (they are, of course, free to do this).

Never did this circumstance have anything to do with my decision to take a different path than the aforementioned technical team – having nothing to do with the “release” of such news, which is absolutely devoid of meaning and reason.”

Announcement pic.twitter.com/6yC3HrAhsH

— Vitor Bruno (@vb_vitorbruno) May 31, 2024