Winger Wendel celebrated his fifth Russian Premier League title this May with Zenit St. Petersburg, marking another significant milestone in his career. Reflecting on the achievement, Wendel emphasized the importance of consistent focus and hard work throughout a challenging season, highlighting Zenit's status as a club expected to secure trophies and satisfy its supporters at home and on the road.

Wendel acknowledged the formidable competition posed by Krasnodar, which maintained strong form from the season’s outset. He noted that the turning point in the title race coincided with Krasnodar dropping points against Dynamo Moscow, a development that ultimately benefited Zenit. Despite this, he praised Krasnodar's performance, describing them as a resilient and highly competitive side. Looking ahead, he cautioned that the club remains one of Russia’s top contenders, requiring vigilance from Zenit in future campaigns.

The midfielder recounted his enthusiastic championship celebrations in Rostov-on-Don, which included dancing and jubilant displays, emphasizing that every title win—even a fifth one—deserves full celebration as a reward for a year’s effort. Regarding a recent incident of tardiness before team preparations, Wendel accepted personal responsibility and noted that although the club approved his absence this time, he offered apologies to teammates and accepted fines for previous infractions. He also joked about compensating the squad with a trip to a bathhouse should they decline a restaurant outing.

During his off-season in Brazil, Wendel maintains an active routine that balances training and leisure. He organizes amateur tournaments in football and footvolley at home, personally designing awards and prizes to encourage competition and community engagement.

On the question of fellow former Zenit player Gerson, Wendel expressed goodwill and friendship. Although Gerson has since moved to Cruzeiro, Wendel said he remains in regular contact and wishes him success, refuting claims that Gerson was unhappy during his tenure at Zenit. He also spoke positively about John Durán, acknowledging the player's commitment and character despite no longer being part of the team.

Wendel highlighted the recent Russian Super Cup victory over Spartak Moscow as a hard-fought and emotionally intense match, achieved in a penalty shootout. Reflecting on the on-field tensions and provocations from opposing players and fans, he underlined the professionalism within Zenit and the importance of focusing on forthcoming challenges, including the new league season.

Discussing contract matters, Wendel described his extension with Zenit last autumn as a natural decision, citing his comfort within the club and long-standing relationships developed during six years with the team. On the prospect of acquiring Russian citizenship, he stated that such decisions require mutual agreement and consideration of broader implications for both himself and Russian football.

Regarding his ambitions, Wendel identified his main goal as supporting the team’s success rather than personal statistics. He named Spartak’s Barco, former Krasnodar player Spertsyan, and Lokomotiv’s Batrakov among the top talents in the league, praising Batrakov’s influence particularly on set pieces and important goals.

Addressing past incidents of racial abuse encountered during a match in Voronezh and his reaction at the time, Wendel called for a positive atmosphere in future games, emphasizing sportsmanship and respect.

On the international stage, Wendel acknowledged the fierce competition within the Brazilian national team’s midfield, remaining hopeful for a future call-up, possibly around the 2030 World Cup. He reacted to Brazil’s unexpected World Cup loss to Norway as a disappointment but stressed respect for the opponents. Wendel also praised Douglas Santos’s World Cup performance, demonstrating camaraderie and support for Russian-based teammates.

Wendel expressed the desire to see Russian clubs return to European competitions such as the UEFA Champions League, recognizing the benefits of competing against top continental teams for players and the league’s reputation.

When asked about earlier career speculation involving clubs like Real Madrid, Wendel took a pragmatic view, focusing on his current contentment at Zenit and looking to secure more titles with the club. He dismissed any lingering regret about a potential transfer that did not materialize the previous summer.

With the new Russian Premier League season commencing, Wendel remains focused on collective goals and maintaining Zenit’s dominance amid a competitive field of clubs, including Spartak, Krasnodar, Dynamo Moscow, and Lokomotiv.