Author: Barkha Roy
Paris Saint-Germain have secured the signing of Brazilian soccer star Ana Vitória on a three-year contract, strengthening their squad ahead of next season. The former Benfica midfielder’s move to the French capital marks a significant turning point in her career as she seeks new challenges in a more competitive league.
Reflecting on her decision, Ana Vitória emphasized the ambition and European aspirations of PSG, a club known for its leadership and determination. In an interview with Ge, she explained: “It’s quite a turnaround. I say for the club itself, because PSG is a leading club, ambitious and has ambitions at European level, which is my second biggest ambition, the first being to win a World Cup. The league is more competitive. These were the two main reasons why I chose to leave where I was.“
After almost five years at Benfica, Ana Vitória has expressed her desire to break free from her comfort zone and embrace new opportunities. She recognized the need for a turning point in her career, saying: “I don’t want to say it’s a comfort zone, but it’s a place I’ve been in for almost five years and I don’t have so many challenges anymore. The turning of the key that I thought was necessary. I’m very excited to start the project.“
Ana Vitória’s arrival at PSG coincides with her participation in the Brazilian national team’s preparations for the upcoming Women’s World Cup in Australia. Despite the fatigue of the previous season, she emphasized the importance of resting and recovering enough to maintain her level of performance.
She said: “I’m fine, even though it’s the end of the season. The season is over. We’ve had a few days to try and recover as much as possible, because it’s been a very tiring season and you have to have those days so you don’t accumulate. If you accumulate, no matter how hard you work, it won’t pay off. We took a few days off for our bodies to rest and then we started preparing at the Granja, with all the players who were already on vacation. We managed not to lower our standards.“
During her time at Benfica, Ana Vitória demonstrated her versatility by playing both as a midfielder and occasionally as a striker. With over 70 appearances and more than 40 goals for the Portuguese side, she has established herself as a constant goal threat. In the 22/23 season, Ana Vitória scored eight goals in the BPI League campaign and contributed to her team’s UEFA Champions League campaign, racking up 511 minutes before the early exit.
Ana Vitoria’s arrival at PSG meets the club’s need for a reliable goalscorer, as her struggles last season were attributed to a lack of goals. With the possible absence of key players such as Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Kadidiatou Diani, securing a player of Ana Vitória’s calibre is a significant boost to PSG’s aspirations of triumph next season.