I am very proud of being Brazilian, but I am also thankful for having the chance to play in Germany for four and a half years. I have completely changed the way I play football because Germany is a tougher, faster game which is more tactical with tighter marking.Collection: Thankful
Everybody knows that Coutinho is a great footballer - here in England, they call him 'The Magician.' He made his decision to join Barcelona, but every time we meet and play for the Selecao, we have a good chat and maintain that friendship. He is an exceptional guy and one of the best friends football has given me.Collection: Friendship
Whenever there is a new song out, we'll sometimes try to rehearse a celebration so when one of us scores a goal, we can celebrate it together. I find this a nice thing between team-mates to show the friendship between us, and I try to do this whenever I can.Collection: Friendship
Without a doubt, German football, where I've played for nearly five years, is very similar - maybe just a little less tough than English football.
I could say Liverpool is the first big club I will play for. It's a massive chance for me to show what I can do.
I was only 19 when I came to Hoffenheim. Everything was new to me - a strange country, a foreign language. That was not easy at the beginning. Europe was a big adventure to me, and of course I had my doubts.
I was adapted to European football after playing in Germany for three years, but English football is very different to the Bundesliga.
When I was younger, I played as a right-back. I also played as a central defender, but I realised that I could dominate the ball quite calmly, so I started playing further forward in front of the back four.
I left Brazil very early, before reaching the top level of the Brazilian championship. That made a difference: I was not seen as a 'name' around the country.
Professor Tite has played a big role in the Selecao's ascent. He's a brilliant coach, with a unique way of working, but he's also a marvellous person. He makes everyone feel at ease.
Coutinho is a friend and also a great player. He's got incredible passing ability; he knows how to put attackers in on goal.
I think the Brazil system is similar to the one we use at Liverpool, with lots of movement, players open out wide, and quality midfielders who join the attack and score goals.
When people ask what my ambitions are for the rest of my career, I always say that I live in the present.
Everyone hears stories about what it means to be a Liverpool player, but, until you live it personally, you cannot really understand it.
It's hard to be as good as Ronaldinho and Ronaldo were, but we're going to do our best, both myself and Philippe Coutinho, to get close to them and be the best players we can be for the Brazilian national team.
My job is to help the team, and so I love retrieving the ball as much as scoring or playing the final pass for a goal.
I started out as a defender. I played as a full-back, and then I moved into the centre. I played defence right the way through until the Under-18s. Honestly!
I have always worked very hard in my career. Always working towards a good moment. And when you plan, the rewards appear.
You play in different situations and conditions, and you have to come up with new solutions for the problems. It has made me a more rounded player, who can handle different tactics and positions.
I'm accustomed to pressure. It's what we, as players, live. If you don't want pressure, then football is not for you.
I have suffered racial prejudice, and I know how painful it is. People need to take this issue more seriously and engage in this fight against racism.
I am not someone who enjoys being followed and harassed. I prefer to stay at home with my family than to go out.
Leaving home early is always complicated. But when I arrived in Germany, I encountered an incredible structure built by the company that takes care of my career. They did not leave me wanting for anything. The most complicated thing was really the language. Otherwise, everything was taken care of.
I look up to many great players - principally attackers. The two Ronaldos, Romario and Rivaldo all play well.
Certainly my dream is to lift the Premier League trophy with Liverpool, and that's what we are trying to do.
I used to be very shy, much more so than I am now. It's great that I've improved in that regard. Every day, I'm getting better and less... embarrassed.
I've always been shy; it's just that I transform on the pitch. I'm a different person. Off the pitch, I'm another person. That's how it has to be.
I learnt a lot in Germany, and the German mentality really helped me. It was an enormous step in my life.
Liverpool are one of the greats in Europe, and being able to be part of the history of such a great club is gratifying to me.
Klopp is a fantastic guy. I rate him as an extremely professional coach, perfectionist, and a winning mentality.