Eduardo da Silva: I feel like a foreigner in Brazil

Former Croatian international Eduardo da Silva says that he feels like a foreigner in his country of birth Brazil, where he is currently plying his trade for Flamengo…

After arriving in Croatia as a 16-year-old and spending 15 years playing in Croatia and Europe, Eduardo has returned to his native Brazil after signing for Flamengo, but the 31-year-old former Dinamo Zagreb striker says the return home has not quiet felt like one.

“When I go out (in Brazil) I notice how different it is compared to Europe. I left Brazil as a kid to go to Croatia and I got used to life in Croatia. I have come back, but I am lost,” said Eduardo, who retired from international football at the end of the World Cup, where he got to play for Croatia in his home country.

“I am born here, but I have different habits than the Brazilians,” Eduardo told FIFA, before explaining some of the differences.

“I feel like a foreigner here, the traffic is different, the supermarkets, shops. In Zagreb I used to buy bread at the same bakery and walk in peace. Nobody knew who I was at the start of my career, things are different now,” da Silva, who is Croatia’s second top goal scorer behind Davor Šuker.

In 2002, Eduardo took Croatian citizenship and was first called up to play for the country’s Under-21 team at the finals tournament of the 2004 Euro U-21 in Germany. He went on to represent the full Croatia side 64 times, scoring 29 goals.