Ronald: Swansea City winger explains why he is driven to succeed by family in Brazil
- Published
Ronald has started every game since his Swansea debut in January
Ronald has silenced questions over whether an untried wide player from Brazil would cope with the rigours of the Championship just as rapidly as he moves up and down the wing.
He is 5,000 miles from home and can speak little English, yet the 22-year-old's only complaint about life at Swansea City is that "it is difficult to see the sun".
Ronald has shown within a couple of months of arriving in Wales that he has the blend of physical and mental strength to cope with the considerable demands of the English second tier.
Nevertheless, in his first media interview since joining Swansea in January, Ronald sheds tears when asked what the move to English football meant to his family back home in the Brazilian city of Corumba.
"I always wanted to be here because of my mum and my grandmother," he said, composing himself.
"They always knew that it was my dream to come here."
Swansea were desperately seeking players who could bring pace and dynamism to their squad during the January transfer window.
They are believed to have come close to doing a deal for Excelsior's Couhaib Driouech, but instead moved for Ronald, who at the time was on loan with Portuguese side Estrela da Amadora from Brazil's Gremio Anapolis.
When news that Swansea had agreed a fee in excess of £1m with Gremio, Ronald's head was turned.
Ronald pictured with his grandmother Maria Vicencia Pereira and mother Laura Pereira
"It was the happiest day of my life," said Ronald, speaking through an interpreter who is also his English teacher.
"My mum started crying. It's the biggest step in my career so far."
Ronald's progress is all the more impressive given that he was a late starter in professional football.
Asked for his earliest footballing memories, Ronald recalls "all the people that didn't quite believe in me".
"I started playing football aged 11 or 12, in the project in the city I am from," he explained.
"We would go to other cities to play other teams. Before that I was just playing for fun in the street with my friends.
"Then when I was 17 or 18, I got a call about going to play professionally for Corumbaense."
Ronald played his first senior football with Corumbaense, before a spell with Atletico Goianiense saw him sold to Gremio Anapolis.
He went back to Goianiense on loan, playing in Brazil's top division for the first time, before another loan, at Sao Paolo club Guarani.
In the summer of 2022, he moved to Portugal on an initial season-long loan deal, helping Estrela win promotion to the top flight last year.
Swansea have won four of the 10 games in which Ronald has played
The loan agreement was extended, with Ronald racking up 17 appearances in the Primeira Liga before Swansea came calling.
He says the style of football in Portugal has made adaptation to the Championship smooth.
"I haven't had to make too many changes," Ronald said, brushing off the idea that English football can be a physical challenge.
"It's not a problem for me. I'm aware of it and prepared for it. No problems."
Head coach Luke Williams has been impressed by the "determination and grit" Ronald possesses which, alongside his pace and technical quality, have combined to make his signing look a shrewd piece of business on Swansea's part.
Ronald says his resilience "comes from being Brazilian".
"You have to be tough," he added. "I've been like that since I was a child. I really want to do the best for my family."
Swansea have had players from all over the world in recent years, particularly during their seven-year spell in the Premier League, but Ronald is the first Brazilian to wear their colours.
The biggest challenge, he says, is the language barrier, although that becomes less of an issue with each lesson after training.
Ronald also picks up words from his team-mates.
"They teach me little bits each day - colours, food," he said.
And swear words? "No!" he added through an unconvincing smile.
Ronald has played in all 10 Swansea games since he signed, with his two goals to date coming in a key victory at Sunderland on 24 February.
He has operated primarily on the right flank with fellow January recruit Przemyslaw Placheta on the left, giving Williams' team a new dimension which has helped ease relegation concerns with eight games of a traumatic season remaining.
Ronald led Swansea's celebrations after he scored two goals in the victory at Sunderland
Swansea go to Sheffield Wednesday on Friday having won three of their last five matches, with the most recent triumph coming against rivals Cardiff City.
"The players were telling me before about the game," Ronald said.
"They told me it was the most important match, not just because of the three points but because of the feeling of beating our rivals. It was incredible."
Ronald remembers it being difficult to leave Brazil for Europe, particularly due to some "family issues" involving his beloved grandmother, Maria Vicencia Pereira.
But with his mother Laura due for a first visit in July, he is happy in Swansea and eyeing a chance, eventually, to play in the top flight.
"There are not a huge number of Brazilian players playing in Europe," Ronald said.
"I always wanted to be one of them. Thanks to god, I am here now.
"Now I want to work, I want to fight."