Author: Barkha Roy
Fernando Diniz juggles his roles as coach of Fluminense and the Brazilian national team. In the two call-ups he has made so far, two players from his club have made the list: defender Nino and midfielder André.
On Tuesday (October 10), André revealed a more patient side to Diniz within the national team, in contrast to the Diniz known for occasional outbursts and displays of frustration on the pitch. At least for now.
“Obviously, its treatment here [na equipe nacional] is a little different. He’s dealing with the best players in the world. At clubs, he usually works with players at the start of their careers, and the treatment naturally varies. He’s showing patience. We know that sometimes he gets a bit agitated during matches, but he’s being patient“, explained André.
Midfielder André, along with 22 other players, is currently in Cuiabá, preparing for Thursday’s (October 12) match against Venezuela, at 21:30 (Brasília time), at the Arena Pantanal, in the third round of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Brazil will also face Uruguay the following Tuesday (October 17) at 9 p.m. (Brasília time) in Montevideo.
On Sunday (October 8), when Fluminense were losing to Botafogo in a Brazilian Championship match, Diniz was caught on camera giving the players a stern reprimand. He passionately asked the team, sometimes using strong language, to run and stop playing games. The match ended 2-0 to their rivals.
“It was quite a scene to see him lose his temper on TV, wasn’t it? He’s very dedicated to us; it’s his way of working. Our team feels very comfortable with him. At Fluminense, we know him well and have a close relationship, so we understand his demands. I think he’ll stick to that approach here. As he becomes more familiar with everyone, I think we’ll see some changes” said André with a smile.
At just 22 years of age, André, who was developed by Fluminense, has occasionally played as a defender under Diniz. This is a clear change from the start of his career as a striker at Bahia.
“I kept coming back – from second striker to midfielder, then second defensive midfielder, first defensive midfielder and now sometimes even as a defender. It’s easy to say that now that I’m here with the national team, but of course, as a striker, I’d face more competition. However, I also see the midfielder position with some fantastic players, such as Casemiro, one of the best in the world. I learn a lot from him here” said André.