Club legend Grafite on returning to Wolfsburg, VfL’s season finale and his work combatting racism.
As VfL Wolfsburg’s 2022/23 season drew to a close against Hertha BSC, Grafite – who won the Bundesliga title with the Wolves in 2009 – returned to the city for the first time since 2019. Prior to flying back to his native Brazil, the 44-year-old, now a television pundit in his homeland, spoke about his visit to Wolfsburg, VfL’s last game of the season and his fight against racism.
Grafite, you’re back in Germany for the first time since 2019. How do you like being in Wolfsburg again?
Grafite: “I really like it. It’s fantastic to be back here. I had a couple of days to walk around the city, see the club offices and the stadium. Yesterday I went back to my old house and the person living there now is a really nice guy. He knew who I was and also my former neighbour recognised me straight away and shouted ‘Grafite, Grafite!’ Being back in Wolfsburg is always a pleasure and I’m proud because I had a wonderful time here and I associate it with positive feelings as I know so many people. It’s a bit like coming home. I often talk to my wife about having had such a fantastic time in Wolfsburg back then. I have so many good memories and good friends from that time.”
You also witnessed first-hand how VfL missed out on European qualification in their final game of the season against Hertha. What was your assessment of the match?
Grafite: “I was obviously a bit disappointed about the game and the result. But it was a really great feeling to be back in the stadium. I had a lot to do, but when I was standing there and the fans were singing my name… wow, that was really incredible. Even though the result wasn’t good for the Wolves, the atmosphere reminded me of 2009 a bit. It was a great moment.”
When I was standing there and the fans were singing my name… wow, that was really incredible. Even though the result wasn’t good for the Wolves, the atmosphere reminded me of 2009 a bit. It was a great moment.
GrafiteYou now live in Rio de Janeiro. What do you miss most about Germany?
Grafite: “The whole atmosphere surrounding the game is different. I also miss some food, the people and the way they show that they like me. Pretty much everything here is different to Brazil. There’s not one big thing in particular I miss, but many little everyday things. For me, these last few days here have been full of nostalgia and a lot of memories about football.”
Do people in Brazil still recognise you on the street?
Grafite: “Even though I didn’t play many games for the national team, people often recognise me at the airport or on the street because I played for the biggest clubs over here. And obviously also because I now work as a television pundit.”
You are also committed to combatting racism…
Grafite: “Yes, it’s a big issue in Brazil and it’s hard work. I think the fight against racism and xenophobia is really exemplary here in Germany, not only in Wolfsburg. We’re trying our best to raise more awareness about it in Brazil. There was a big incident in Brazil in 2005 when I was playing for Sao Paulo in the Copa Libertadores and I was racially abused by an Argentinian opponent. I was sent off because I reacted by grabbing his face. When I was in the changing room I heard that the police were already on-site and that it was already a big issue on TV. Instead of going home angry about being sent off, I went to the police station to give a statement. The other player stayed in custody for two days. He never apologised to me.”
