Video: Emerson Royal on how iconic Milan convinced him at Tottenham | OneFootball

Emerson Royal reveals where his nickname comes from, the reason Milan is ‘iconic’ for Brazilians and why playing at San Siro with Tottenham made him realise he wanted to join the Rossoneri.

The right-back sat down with the official Lega Serie A YouTube channel for an in-depth interview about his childhood, career and why representing the Diavolo is so special for him.

They started right at the beginning with where he got his name.

“The nickname ‘Royal’ comes from a gelatine brand,” revealed the full-back.

“When I was little, I had a big mouth and my aunt says I used to cry a lot. She called me ‘Royal big mouth’ as I looked like the gelatine mascot.

“Everyone started calling me Royal to tease me when I was little. It caught on and now people call me Royal more than my actual name, which is Emerson.”

Like many Brazilian players, Emerson Royal grew up in the Favelas, the poorest areas in the country.

“I grew up in a favela and people consider those bad and dangerous places, but that’s true about many other places in the world.

“I learned a lot in the favela, because people are hungry for success, they want to grow and improve their lives. I was one of those people who heard that it was impossible to do that. But I believed it was possible, even though I was from a favela.

“I try to communicate that motivation whenever I am in Brazil. I try to go to favelas and talk to the children there. I believe they have to have that option and not just turn to drugs, alcohol and partying. They have to look at the world more broadly.”

Emerson Royal always dreamed of Milan move

Much like Milan teammate Rafael Leao, Emerson Royal plays with a smile on his face.

“I am always smiling because I’m a very happy person. I think smiling cures everything and I try to live each day with a smile to seek happiness.

“Of course, things aren’t always going great, but I try to live my life the best I can and with a smile on my face, whether at practice, playing a match, at home or anywhere else. I’ll be trying to spread happiness around me, because it’s contagious.”

Another former Rossoneri player who loved to smile was Marcos Cafu, whose role at right-back has been taken by Emerson Royal now.

“Milan is iconic for us Brazilians, I saw players like Ronaldinho play here, Kaka, Cafu, Alexandre Pato, Robinho. I think that’s a legacy they left behind at Milan, a joyful style of football, full of commitment and happiness on the pitch.

“Cafu is a player who inspired me a lot. Daniel Alves also inspires me with his style of play, he was a very aggressive player on the attack, while Cafu was very consistent. He was strong both defensively and offensively.

“Those are my two inspirations for my position. I have the versatility to stay back and defend, but also to push forward and attack. I don’t have a preference. It depends on the system the coach prefers.

“If he prefers that I build up play more from the back, I’ll do that. If he needs me to push further forward, I’m ready to do that as well. Whatever the coach asks, I am here to deliver.”

epa11703680 Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr (L) in action against AC Milan’s Fikayo Tomori (2R) during the UEFA Champions League soccer match between Real Madrid and AC Milan, in Madrid, Spain, 05 November 2024. EPA-EFE/JUANJO MARTIN

Antonio Conte worked with Emerson Royal at Tottenham Hotspur and his training regime is legendary all over the football world.

“Conte really conveyed his passion for football,” continued Emerson Royal.

“He helped me a lot by challenging my mental resilience with tough training sessions. He always demanded our best and that gave me a lot of mental strength.

“I’ve been doing a lot for my mental well-being and working on it myself too, so it is all helping.”

As for Paulo Fonseca, the current Milan coach has a different approach to his tactics.

“Fonseca is a coach who likes to play an attacking style and press high. He shares characteristics that align with my playing style. He enjoys coaching, explaining and helping players to learn.

“He’s been talking to me during training, explaining the positioning he prefers and what he wants me to do, my responsibilities during the match.”

Emerson Royal reveals the moment he realised he wanted to play for Milan was when facing them as an opponent with Spurs in 2023.

“When I came here and saw the stadium and the Milan fans, I got goosebumps. I was at Tottenham and we were playing in the Champions League at the time. The atmosphere was fantastic and I wanted to feel it from this side.

“San Siro is an incredible and iconic stadium known worldwide, not just in Brazil. I’m very happy to be here with that atmosphere on my side.”