Striker returns to Brazil; his heart is in Ukraine

SAO PAULO (AP) — Veteran striker Junior Moraes returned to Brazil to join Corinthians, but admitted that his mind is not connected only in the sport.

Moraes, 34, who obtained Ukrainian citizenship three years ago, fears for his friends, colleagues and colleagues, in the face of the Russian invasion.

The footballer played in Ukraine for much of the last decade. He scored dozens of goals for Metalurg Donetsk, Dynamo Kiev and most recently for Shakhtar Donetsk. He learned Ukrainian, played 11 matches for the national team and planned to stay in the European country after his professional career.

He now has serious doubts about a possible future in Ukraine.

“It's still very hard for me to talk about this. I can't forget as long as the war continues,” Moraes tearfully said Tuesday, during a press conference at the Corinthians training grounds in Sao Paulo. “I'm still connected with the people there. I talk to people who are still there every day. They need support to get their families out.

“I can't smile the way I want to. I think I will only do it once this war is over.”

Russia's February invasion of Moraes' adopted country forced the footballer and millions of people to flee. Moraes left Ukraine on February 27 with the remaining five members of a group of 40 foreigners, mainly Brazilians, whom he helped organize in a hotel in Kiev, transformed into a bunker.

They all escaped the war, mostly over the borders with Ukraine and Moldova.

Moraes' wife and two children were in Brazil, where he spent much of last year, recovering from a knee injury that marginalized him from the most recent European Championship of Nations.

The striker had his best seasons at Shakhtar, a club he joined in 2018. Born in Brazil, Moraes won two consecutive league titles, both times as the top scorer of the campaign.

He played 106 matches for the club and scored 62 goals.

Their agreement with Corinthians was only possible after FIFA opened a short transfer period for players operating in Ukraine, so that they could play elsewhere.

Activity in the Ukrainian league is suspended.

One of the striker's new teammates is midfielder Renato Augusto, who also had tears in his eyes during a press conference when asked about Moraes' efforts in Ukraine.

“He's a man of the best. Many friends who were there with him tell me how much he did to help others. This goes far beyond football,” said Augusto, adding that many foreigners who had difficulty leaving Ukraine were not first-division players with money and contacts.

Moraes has helped players from the second division, the women's league and futsal.

“Many of them went there in search of a new challenge, to have the opportunity to play more,” said the striker. “The number of Brazilians living there increased, for example, to triple last year.”

The attacker, like many other selected Ukrainians, active and retired, has made donations to the country's government to help him confront Russia. The Brazilian press has reported that Moraes gave at least $55,000.

On what he hopes for his future and that of Ukraine, Moraes said: “The only hope that Ukrainians have is that this war will end. Many have left to stay safe. And others are alone in the bunkers, just waiting for it to end.”