Kika Nazareth: "I want to go to the supermarket and be spoken to in Catalan"

Saint John Despí"Yes, we're doing the whole interview in Catalan. Of course," says Kika Nazareth (Lisbon, 2002), boldly. The Portuguese footballer doesn't lose energy or her contagious smile despite having participated in numerous events and interviews before a key match for Barça. On Sunday (4:30 PM, TV3), the blaugranas will play the second leg of the Champions semifinals against Bayern. She will play at Camp Nou for the second time in her career and in her second season in Barcelona, a city she has fallen in love with, as well as Catalan culture and its language: "I play and live in Catalonia. I wanted to learn Catalan out of respect."

You didn't miss Sant Jordi. We saw you at the Barça stand, in the heart of Barcelona.

— I had a great time, I like to live what Catalonia is and what it is to live here. I liked being able to experience a Sant Jordi with the Catalans.

Did they give you any roses or any books?

— Yes, they gave me many roses and also a book. I was with a friend who lives here in Barcelona and she gave me a book, written in Catalan, where there are curious words from all over the world.

And did you give me any?

— Books no, but yes a rose, to Vicky López. The day before she told us she wanted a rose. The next day, when I arrived, I left one in her locker. She didn't know it had been me, until she started asking all her colleagues.

You celebrated Sant Jordi surrounded by people. Are you recognized more and more on the street?

— At first I could go about my life in Barcelona, without thinking much about it. Now people know me more, but it's normal: I play with the best, I'm part of the team where the best are.

How do you handle being recognized on the street? Do they stop you more in Barcelona or in Lisbon?

— I'm handling it very well. In Lisbon, which is smaller and I'm Portuguese, it's harder for me, because people look at me, stop me and ask for a photo. When it's too much, it can be a bit tiring, I won't lie to you.

When the season started, you made a post saying it would be a fun year. Is it?

— Yes. Now comes the best part of the season, the finals! It can always be better, because I am also very demanding. I used to be used to playing more, now I have minutes, but I always want more. But I would tell you yes, it's a very fun year, without many injuries. Not like last year.

You couldn't play the Champions League final in Lisbon, at home, due to an injury. Is that a thorn in your side?

— Yes, it hurts. I will always have it. Although it wasn't entirely at my home, because it wasn't Benfica's stadium [it was Sporting's], but it was with my people, with my family, my country. I will always remember that day, I take it as a learning experience. I don't just want to play a final, I also want to win it. Win the Champions League.

You are always seen with a lot of energy, very cheerful. But this affected you.

— Yes, and after that I don't like it anymore when people ask me if I feel like playing or if I want a certain match to arrive already. Because it already happened to me against Real Madrid, they asked me and in the end I couldn't play it. That's why, don't ask me if I feel like playing against Bayern! [joking].

So, are you superstitious?

— Before I would have told you no, but now, if we talk about this, I think a little yes. I'm a little afraid to say I'm really looking forward to playing such a match in case something happens to me beforehand, as has already happened to me...

Do you have any rituals before going out to the field?

— No. I always play with my hair tied back in a ponytail, for many years now, but that's it.

We won't ask you about the Oslo final, but we will ask you how you see the team before the second leg of the semi-finals.

— Very good. We beat Bayern 7-1 at the Johan, but that was a long time ago. It was in the league stage. In the semi-finals, the match there was very different. And that's the good thing about football, that there is this competitiveness. We are very eager, we will play with our fans and in our home. If we do what we know and do things as we have been doing, it will go well. We have the best coaches in the world and we also have to adapt to the match that Bayern will present to us.

You played at Camp Nou against Madrid, now you will play there again. What does it mean for you?

— It's our home. I always say that football is a show. We play for ourselves, I play for myself and for the badge I wear on my chest, but we also play for our people. Having the opportunity to play with 60,000 people... I grew up watching the Barça players at Camp Nou: Messi, also Neymar... and now it's me who can play in this stadium.

Are you from Benfica and Barça?

— I'm from Benfica, but now I'm also from Barça. It's different because I was born there, but I want to play and suffer for Barça. It's not just playing for a club and that's it. If we haven't won, I don't want to go home and not care. No. I want to feel. I guess that's why I've also earned the fans' esteem. I can now say that I'm one of the Barça fans.

You have entered the locker room on the right foot and the fans love you very much.

— It is a very close, very familiar hobby. When my father came, who is very much a Benfica fan, he told me he didn't know it was like this, people are very different. Benfica is Benfica, I don't want to compare it, but here everyone is family. And this is very important to us, because of how we play and how we live football.

What has made you fall in love with Barça the most?

— Their people. The teammates. Not only are they the best footballers, but they are also very good people. They are friends. I think this is the most important thing. I'm not saying we all have to be best friends in the world, but this locker room is home. This is also what fell in love with the people of Catalonia.

Why have you wanted to learn Catalan?

— Out of respect. When I played for Benfica and people from outside came who wanted to learn Portuguese, I was very excited. If I play for a club in Catalonia where people speak Catalan, I have to learn Catalan. I want to go to the supermarket and be served in Catalan. If I live and play in Catalonia, I want to speak Catalan.

How did you learn it?

— I went to classes with my classmates and started watching series in Catalan like Crims or Merlí. I listen to music, like Figa Flawas, Oques Grasses or Rita Payés, who is my favorite in Catalan. I also ask everyone to speak to me in Catalan, even if they are from outside. Aitana is the one who does it the most. The coaches sometimes too, but I think they have internalized that I am not Catalan. I want to change that and have them always speak to me in Catalan.

I saw a photo on social media where you are giving Portuguese-Catalan classes in the locker room.

— How embarrassing. I don't want to talk about it [laughs]. These girls hang out some pictures sometimes… When I saw it… There are words that people don't need to…

Do you usually look at social media?

— Yes. We are normal people. I think people maybe think that we leave home and don't look at anything. It's not like that, in my case. Sometimes I also comment and say things. We joke with our colleagues. I think that we female footballers are different from men in this, we are closer.

You celebrated Sant Jordi and we also saw you go for a calçotada.

— I met some friends from Igualada and now we are family. We had the first calçotada and it was very good. I'm a little more Catalan now.

What would be the equivalent of Portugal?

— Hmm... Maybe the Festas dos Santos Populares. People go out and celebrate the festival in the oldest neighborhoods of Lisbon, like Alfama or Graça. And they also eat sardines, drink beer, listen to popular music…

You started playing Os Torpedos, as a child, futsal. What remains of that Kika?What remains of that Kika?

— Freedom, fun, unpredictability. Doing things without thinking. I am the player I am because of that. I was a kid on a team of boys, who were faster and stronger. I had to think faster and I think that brought me a lot. I am the player I am because of what I lived at Os Torpedos.

What else do you miss about Lisbon?

— Benfica. The Benfica people, my friends. I miss it a lot. I'm very well here, but I like to have this feeling of missing something. My parents, my family, my home... Even though I feel at home here, there's no place like your home. When I have free days, I always go. They also come to see me here.

The last time you were in Lisbon you went to Rosalía's concert and got into the confessional. How was that?

— They called me and asked me what I thought about going up to Rosalía's confessional. And I thought: "What is this? What do I have to do? What do I have to say? How crazy!" I don't think I'm aware of what happened yet. Nobody knew. Only my mother and two more friends. They helped me a lot because I wanted to do things right, explain a story. It's a show and I didn't want to be nervous. It's an experience I will remember forever.

Did you hesitate a lot whether to accept it or not?

— I hesitated because of the story I told, but in the end it's an experience that will never happen again.

You are at the concert and there's a moment when you have to go up...

— Before the song La perla, they let me know and I go up. I'm on stage and while Rosalía is singing, I see her approach me and give me a hug. It was very close. I look around and there are thousands of people looking at me. Friends are still laughing about it in the dressing room!

Since when have you been a fan of Rosalía?

— A long time ago. Now more so, since the last album, but I liked her before. I don't just consider her one of the best singers in the world, but I also found her very beautiful as a person.