Marlon promised that he would return to Ukraine

The former Shakhtar defender spoke about the war and how he was trying to help Ukrainians.

Marlon never forgets Ukraine and hopes to return one day. The former defender of Shakhtar revealed this in an interview with La Repubblica.

In addition, the defender of Brazil spoke about how he got out of the warring country and how he helps the Ukrainians in the fight against the invaders.

– You have three children: Pedro, Joao Miguel Santos and Bernardo. Were you together in Ukraine when the war started?

Yes, I am with them. The eldest is four years old. When Russian tanks entered the country, he, as usual, played and laughed. He ran and drew unnoticed. For my husband and I, he was a joy, he helped us not to lose hope.

– How much time did you spend in Ukraine after the start of the conflict?

– Four days, and then we, foreigners from Shakhtar, were able to leave the hotel where we live in Kyiv. We left our cars near the train station with keys on the wheels for families in need to get. In fact, we gave them away.

– A few days ago you posted an image of the Ukrainian flag on Instagram, dedicated to the anniversary of national independence. Do you keep in touch with fellow miners?

– Of course. At their request, I make donations in support of Ukraine. They also set up a fund to pay the salaries of the club’s employees, from warehouse workers to secretaries, to which I contribute.

– In Ukraine, with great difficulty, the championship started again, the matches of which will be held in the west of the country. Fans have criticized the fact that many foreign players have left the country.

– I understand them, but I chose. I sleep three hours a day, I fear for my family. I think it’s human. And I’m not forgetting Ukraine. One day I will return, but I don’t know how I will be noticed in society, by people, by my old companions.

– What do they tell you?

– About bombed buildings. About elderly relatives who don’t want to leave their homes. But they also tell me that they are happy to be back in the game, to give Ukrainians some normal life back. Some of them were ready to go to the front as volunteers at the beginning of the war, but everything was clear to the government with them: to raise the national spirit, they needed them alive, inside the stadium, playing ball.

Recall that Marlon moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in the summer of 2021. After the start of a large-scale invasion of Kremlin troops in Ukraine, he left the country. And then he decided to take advantage of the FIFA rule and go on a one-year lease to the Italian Monza.

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