“A pride to be compared to Pedri”

Alberto Moleiro (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, 2003) considers, in an interview with EFE, that “it is a pride” to compare with Peteralthough he points out that on the field they are players”different” and advocates that continue to grow to form its own history.

Moleiro enjoy football again afterwards eight weeks due to injury, the first that he suffers as a professional and that made him change his routine before training. In an interview with EFE, Moleiro check time away from playing; how “lifted a weight” after re-scoring one year, 5 months and 19 days later; and defends that Jonathan Viera, as captain of UD Las Palmas, “earned the right to decide his future.”

He returned to the Spanish under-21 team a year and two months later, in his generation. Finally, right?

Yes, I really want to go back. Especially after an injury. I saw the games and wanted to match them.

In the sub-19 he was paired with Santi Denia, currently coach of the sub-21. Did they talk when he was away due to injury?

When I was injured, Santi spoke to me to ask how I was and what happened to me. We had that conversation and I am very grateful that he called me and that he had that confidence in me. I will try to show him confidence on the field.

Let’s talk about your injury. Eight weeks of not playing football. What is that process?

This is my first injury and I don’t know my body and the pain I have. But when you go in with the team and see yourself, the better.

Has anything changed as a result of the injury?

I didn’t have a routine before. I came to training and started playing soccer-tennis or something and now I do some preventive and strength exercises to strengthen the area.

He said it was his first injury. Who do you trust to support you on those days when you are not doing what you love most?

To my family. I live with my mother. In it, my father, my sister, my brother-in-law… everyone supported me a lot, along with my grandparents and my closest friends.

It was like his mother’s house, nowhere.

Yes, yes (laughs). This has been an incredible support for me. I’m only 20 years old. I love being with him, going for walks, he keeps me grounded and grounded.

There is a lot of talk about you for your debut season in the Primera because of your present and, more importantly, the future. Do you feel that pressure?

No, I accept it as another. Yes, it’s true that Primera demands more from you and you push yourself, but I’m calm.

What are you most excited about in these four First Division matches?

Facing Atlético de Madrid, against players I always see on television. I’m very happy, but when you see them on the field it’s normal.

He was talking about the game against Atlético de Madrid, his first start. How did you feel?

I’m good, still getting sensations because at that moment I’m not 100%. But it is a process of getting speed and minutes. But I am very good and comfortable with the team.

And do you feel 100%?

We are starting a little bit, but we still need to get a rhythm and sensations on the field. There is only less left.

Any t-shirts pending order this season?

Some are from Madrid, from Barça… although in general I want from many teams.

His name is usually linked to Pedri’s. How do you deal with this comparison?

Since I showed my head a bit in the professional world, I don’t know if it’s because of my physical appearance, I look a bit like him, and we both left Las Palmas, I’ve been compared to him a lot. For me it is a pride to be compared to Pedri, but on the field we are different. Everyone has their own football. I’ll have to make more of a name for myself so they stop comparing me to Pedri (laughs), but I’m delighted to be compared to him, world-class.

Comment that they are different players. Which player are you looking at?

I pay attention to the midfielders. That they are gamers, they also have a goal… I’m really like Isco.

Talk about having a goal. You dialed back one year, five months and 19 days later. Has a weight been lifted off your shoulders?

I took the pressure off myself. I didn’t score last season and now I see the goal bigger (laughs). In celebration I did that, as if there was a weight on my shoulders. That was all that came to my mind and I offered it to my parents in the stand.

UD Las Palmas is having a good moment. They have lost one game in their last six, four points behind Europe… there must be a good atmosphere in the team.

a wonderful atmosphere came. We know what we’re playing, we want to mingle, get to the spot… we play well. We are better than very good teams and that shows in the classification.

Is it difficult to see the classification and not excited to think about lofty goals?

Our goal is safety. If this is true, you need to look as high as possible. But once we have 40 points, enjoy the category, as we are doing now, and finish as high as possible.

How do you feel about Jonathan Viera’s situation in the locker room?

He is the captain and has earned the right to decide his future. When you want to leave or when you want to stay. Whatever he decides should be respected and I’m happy to have him as a partner. He helped me a lot on a daily basis, he gave me a lot of advice and I am very grateful to him.

Talking about the future. His name is always in the rumor mill of interest from other teams…

At UD Las Palmas I am very happy. This is a great team and we are showing it today. We have to continue there, keeping the line.