Ryan Gauld will do his best to live up to the £48 million his new club value him at.
Speaking at Edinburgh Airport in his first interview since a whirlwind week that has seen him become a Sporting Lisbon player on a six-year contract, the former Dundee United teenager didn’t seem overawed either by a media scrum more associatedwith people from Las Vegas than Laurencekirk, or by the incredible hype that has accompanied his multi-million-pound move.
Gauld insisted the release price Sporting have put on him and the shadow of past club icons like Ronaldo and Figo won’t faze him.
“It’s been a bit crazy over the last few days, overwhelming at times, and I’m glad it’s all sorted now,” he said. “I knew it was a great club and great for developing players, it was really an option that I couldn’t turn down.
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“They’ve paid a big price but hopefully I can put in big performances for them and establish myself and do well.
“I’m not really thinking about following Figo and Ronaldo just now. I’m just thinking of looking forward to playing for the club and trying to make a good show of myself.
“They’re obviously two very good players but I’m just concentrating on myself. The price tag is a bit unbelievable just now but hopefully in a few years I can live up to that.
“I’m just going to have to get my head down and work as hard as I can. I’ve got a lot in my game to improve, hopefully I can get there, work hard and see what I can do.”
A new country, new home, new club and new language are all challenges Gauld is keen to embrace.
He pointed out: “It will be hard but I’m really looking forward to it, it’s going to be a good challenge for myself and I’m really looking forward to it. Lisbon is a great city and I’m sure I’ll enjoy living there.
“Playing football abroad is something I’ve always wanted to do since I was young. Hopefully it will live up to what I’ve been expecting.
“The coaches are just looking forward to me going over for training and we’ll see how it goes from there.
“Everyone knows it’s a great club, a very big club, good at developing younger players. That’s played a big part in my signing.
“The length of the contract just shows that they’re not expecting too much too soon it’s probably a long-term investment.”
After leaving Edinburgh, Gauld headed straight to St Andrews to say goodbyes to his old team-mates and management who had just finished their afternoon training session.
He also had a message for the United supporters who have taken him to their hearts over the last couple of seasons.
“I would just like to say that they’ve been absolutely superb ever since I played my first game,” the Scotland under-21 international said.
“They supported me even when I was not playing too well. I would like to thank them for that.
“Also the coaches at Dundee United, they are the ones who have developed me as a player, and the gaffer, who has given me a chance to show what I can do.
“I would just like to say thanks for everyone at Dundee United for giving me this chance.
“When I first heard of the interest from the manager, I was kind of overwhelmed by it. The club have been great through it all. They’ve not stood in my way.
“They’ve let me speak to Sporting Lisbon and helped the deal go through, so I’m really grateful for that.”
The next United fans may see of him could be on the television in the Champions League, as Sporting have qualified straight into the group stages.
Gauld hasn’t put a timescale on when he is hoping to make his first team breakthrough, though.
“I’ve not thought about the Champions League,” he insisted. “I’ll just be taking it step by step and the first step will be pre-season training, which I’m looking forward to.”
Time will tell if Gauld’s European adventure proves to be a one-off for young Scottish footballers, or if he becomes a trail-blazer.
He said: “I would like to think that a few more players could go and learn football abroad as well, and get used to a different lifestyle and culture.”