Nicolás Lodeiro is a player that is no longer the promise of Uruguayan football. He is now an integral part of La Celeste.

The youngster from Paysandú saw his dream of playing with Nacional become reality. From that moment on, his career has been on the upswing.

In 2009, he became the engine that helped El Bolso become league champions in 2009. Nacional also reached the league finals that same year; a feat no achieved by a Uruguayan side in over 20 years.

The young midfielder became leader of that country’s national team during the U-20 World Cup held in Egypt. This side demonstrated a revival in the technical side of La Celeste, showing that country’s brilliant future with this generation.

Uruguay coach Oscar Washington Tabárez gave the youngster the big opportunity to debut with the national team in one of the most important ties leading up to the World Cup- the playoff against Costa Rica.

We spoke in depth with the young Ajax star about his past, present, and future.

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Juan Arango: How did playing in different sports like triathlon, basketball help you out in your development as a footballer?

Nicolas Lodeiro: Well, I did it when I was a kid. I did it while I was at Paysandú. I liked to play different sports and I always found time to play them all. Obviously, if if coincided with football, then I would take football because it was my priority. I always tried to remain active. That’s why I think it helped me out physically.
It helped me physically especially because of the rigors of football as I mentioned before. In the modern game, you have to be in top shape in order to be able to play the full 90 minutes. The matches are very intense and they are very demanding. This doesn’t only go for the physical aspect but the mental aspect as well. Playing sports also helps you out that way.

JA: What have you noticed are the differences between European ball and the South American game?

NL: The European game is more tactical; much more organized. The players are big for the most part, very strong. There’s always order. Always order. I think that was what cost me the most because I was used to playing in South America. So coming to Europe was a big change for me, especially in the physical part.

JA: How did your experience playing for a team like Nacional help your adaptation at Ajax?

NL: Playing at Nacional helped me a great deal because of the level of competition that they face. They play domestically as well as international tournaments. With that type of team, you have become accustomed to playing Sunday, Wednesday Sunday, Wednesday. That helped me out to adapt quicker to European football. Here you play all the time and there are some demanding matches played all the time.

JA: ¿How have the last few months been in the life of Nicolás Lodeiro?

NL:Honestly, it’s been the greatest year of my life. It was also the year where everything came out perfectly. A lot of great things happened in my life in these past few months- won the league title with Nacional, played in the U-20 World Cup, then I got called up to play with the senior side and made my debut in the plaoff against Costa Rica. Fortunately we are going to the World Cup. Then I was transferred to Ajax. Lots of great things happened and I try to enjoy them and learn from them as much as I can.

JA: What was going through your head when your were called up to the senior national team side for the first time?

NL: To be honest, the confidence that Tabárez was very important. To this day I am very appreciative in his confidence towards me. That match was not just any match, it was a final. I arrived from the U-20 World Cup just a month before and he called me up. When he called me up, I couldn’t believe it. Then to spend time with all of those great players was incredible. But for me to not only practice with them, but also play was huge for me. Fortunately I was given the chance to play and thinkgs came out well and Uruguay were able to qualify for the World Cup. Honestly, during that entire month I did not really understand what was going on.

JA:How did you feel when you first signed on with Nacional?

NL: The honest truth is that I was very young and had always been a huge Nacional fan. I was a die-hard Nacional fan and I loves to play football. So when they scouted me I was playing with the select side back home. It was a great moment for me. It was a very emotional moment not only for me, but for my family as well. They were excited that I was about to go play for Nacional.

JA: Who helped you out the most during this recent time?

NL: Matute, Matute Morales who was playing with me at Nacional helped me a great deal. He was very experienced and is a very talented player. I was very lucky to to have had him on my team. I was able to ask him what I wanted to know. He always helped me out. Another player that helped me out was Martín Ligüera. Now at Ajax Luis Suárez has helped me out a great deal in adapting to the Netherlands.

JA: How do you see the Uruguayan national team prior to the World Cup?

NL: The national team is really good. I think we are slowly finding our way. We are figuring out what Coach Tabárez wants us to do. Fortunately we were able to do well against Switzerland and we have been able to gain confidence ever since.

JA: What are you goals individually and collectively?
Personally, I want to go to the World Cup, that’s my goal. After that I want to do everything right. My first goal then would be to get out of the group stage and then try to get as deep into the playoffs as possible.

***Special thanks to the press department at Ajax****