Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Andre Gomes: Valencia going all out for victory over Real Madrid

Valencia midfielder Andre Gomes has told AS that he will call Cristiano Ronaldo to tell his Portugal teammate he will be going all out for victory in Sunday's La Liga clash against Real Madrid.

Table-toppers Real open their 2015 with a tricky trip to the Mestalla, where champions Atletico Madrid were beaten in October, and Barcelona needed a 93rd-minute winner to take all three points in November.

The recently-capped Portugal international said he could make the call as national captain Ronaldo regularly shared his experience with his colleagues, and was much more open and talkative than people might think.

"I speak a bit with [Ronaldo] at the national team," Gomes, 21, said. "I will speak with him now because he is coming to Mestalla and I will tell him that I want to win. You must enjoy this game, and try and beat them.

"Cristiano is a very relaxed person, who talks with everyone. He is one of the veterans, and talks a lot with the younger players. He has a lot of authority.

"Although everyone might think that Cristiano is a very closed-up guy, he is not like that. He speaks with you whenever you need it; he tries to help you.... He is a very important player in our national team."

Gomes arrived at Mestalla last summer on loan, with his sporting rights being owned by third-party investment company Meriton -- owned by Singapore businessman Peter Lim, who is advised by Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes.

After Lim's purchase of the club finally went through last October, Gomes and fellow emerging prospect Rodrigo were officially made Valencia players.

However, Gomes said these extra off-pitch complications had not affected his settling-in period at Valencia.

"Sincerely, I felt a Valencia player from the day I arrived," he said. "I had no other thought than being at Valencia [long-term]. It is true that now with Lim we are more relaxed, but I feel the same as at the start. What was said was that Rodrigo and I, when the loan ends, will be Valencia players."

Gomes believes his step up from Portuguese league football has gone well after quickly established himself as a regular first-choice pick for coach Nuno Espiritu Santo.

"When you sign for a club like Valencia you know things could be difficult, because this is a team who always tries to win every game," he said. "I believe I am a fortunate person because I am playing all the time and things are going pretty well. Every player wants to play in Spain or England.

"I am finding that in La Liga there is a jump in quality from the Portuguese league, which was already good. But La Liga is stronger. At 21 I am still a kid and I know I have a lot to learn.

"When I arrived I knew I had to improve many things, and I am doing that. You see that in Spain the game is a lot quicker, more technical and those of us who come in from outside must adapt very quickly."

Facing Ronaldo and Madrid in Valencia's opening game of 2015 will be another test of how well he is settling in Spain.

"Of course," he added. "When you come to La Liga you wait for games like against Madrid to come, so you can experience them. They are tense games, but you must enjoy them."

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