Casemiro has revealed that throughout his year with Porto, he was thinking of a potential return to Real Madrid.
The Brazil midfielder was loaned to the Portuguese club in the summer of 2014 and Porto then exercised their right to sign him permanently, only for Madrid to then pay Porto to take him back.
Casemiro has met up with his Madrid colleagues after the Copa America and spoke to the club’s official website, explaining his happiness at returning to Los Blancos.
“I’m living another dream and I feel like I’m back home,” he said, AS reports.
“I was away for a year but my thoughts were always with Madrid. I’m looking forward to succeeding here.
“[The season with Porto] was a very important year in my life. The club helped me a lot but I worked hard, with enthusiasm and humility and always thought about returning to Madrid. It was a spectacular year in individual terms.
“I still feel good. The coaching staff are doing a great job and our location is spectacular. The players’ mentality is very good. I think that’s the way to win trophies at the end of the season.
“Rafa Benitez is a Coach who demands a lot of players and I like that. He knows how to talk to players and he’s smart. We’ve got the mentality to win trophies.
“I really like No 14 and the history of the players who’ve worn it here, Guti and Xabi Alonso, who made history at the club. I think I can make history and I want to keep working to get there.
“My objectives are the same as when I arrived on my first day at Castilla. Work hard and be eager to succeed at Madrid, which is my dream. I’m back home.”
