Dani started out in basketball, but was quickly absorbed by the world of football. He played for Monte Caparica, Benfica, Belenenses and Vitória FC before leaving home to join the youth team at Vitória SC at the age of 18.
He worked his way up through the various levels (under-23 and B team) until he established himself as one of Castelo's great figures. In January 2024, he made the move to Hellas Verona, where he felt their style of play didn't suit him completely. A year later, he began a new chapter at FC Midtjylland.
" Midtjylland managers love Portugal"
How have you settled into your new club? Are you surprised by what you've found in Denmark?
"It's going very well and I've been very positively surprised. Both the size of the club and the competitiveness of the league have exceeded my expectations. The league has players of great quality. As for the club, it's a huge institution here in Denmark that has grown enormously. Although I'm only 25 - I'll be 26 this year - I'm already showing great maturity. The welcome is also remarkable. Their motto is "we are a family club" and this is reflected in the way they welcome not only the athletes, but also their families and friends. From day one, I felt that genuine concern.
Is FC Midtjylland recognized in Portugal and how does the relation to CD Mafra work in terms of developing young players?
"I think that in Portugal, especially among football lovers, there is still no clear perception of what is going on here. However, that's changing, not least because Midtjylland have played in the Champions League and the Europa League and are becoming increasingly well known in Europe. They're turning CD Mafra into a satellite club of Midtjylland, betting heavily on youngsters. Our team has a lot of young players, and when they realise that someone needs more time to develop, they send them to Mafra to gain experience. This strategy is fundamental."
"What's more, they really appreciate our culture. I've already had the chance to talk to some managers and they love Portugal, whether it's the football, the climate or even the cuisine. They try to absorb ideas from the best - Premier League, Portuguese League, Serie A - and this mentality of continuous learning has allowed the club to grow by leaps and bounds, towards a successful future."
How would you describe the mentality and philosophy of the club?
"The idea is simple: Build a team that can be champions that is young, competitive, has lots of quality and plays great football and, when the time is right, sell the players that has a high value. Many clubs sell out of necessity, but that's not the case at Midtjylland, fortunately. The club cares about what's best for the player and knows when the time is right for a transfer, both for the player and for the team itself. In January, they received several offers, but since their goal is to win the league title - something unprecedented in Midtjylland's history - they opted not to let some players leave. That in itself says a lot about the club's mentality."
How would you describe the Danish Superliga?
It's a league that perhaps the Portuguese still don't follow very much, but which is starting to gain more attention. As I said, it's a young, competitive and attacking league with very technical players. The Danes stand out for their physicality, but there are also a lot of high-quality foreigners, which gives the competition even more visibility. Anything can happen here. In the Portuguese league, for example, if the teams at the bottom beat some of the top teams, it's a big surprise. But in this league, that's more common, which makes it even more unpredictable and competitive.
What can Portuguese players add?
"I speak from experience, both from the Portuguese and Italian league. Portuguese players generally stand out for their technical quality, their ability to read the game and link up well with their team-mates. And this isn't just reflected on the pitch. Off the pitch, in the locker room, the Portuguese players, being Latin, finds it easy to socialise and create a good atmosphere. Here, they really value that team spirit both on and off the pitch."
" Hellas Verona 's style of play didn't suit me"
You left Hellas Verona to sign a contract for Midtjylland until 2029. What prompted this move? You went from fighting to stay in the Serie A to fighting for the Danish title - how do you see that transition?"
"The choice was quite simple. I've always been a player who likes to fight for something, and at Verona the challenge was to stay in the Serie A, which is something very big. However, the style of play didn't suit me, so the decision was easy. Above all, I wanted to be happy. And for me, being happy means playing football, having the ball at my feet. Midtjylland showed a great willingness to count on me, which made everything even easier. What's more, here I have the chance to fight for titles every year, be a champion and play in European competitions. That's what attracted me."
How well have you adapted culturally to Denmark from Italy?
It was easy to adapt because the Danes know how to welcome people very well. I'm not saying that the Portuguese are different, but as you mentioned, we're more Latin, more hot-blooded, whereas here people are calmer and accept everything without too much concern, even when they might get upset about certain things.
The only difference I felt, and it was in the first week, was the cold. But that was it, because after a while I got used to it. In terms of food, Denmark has excellent quality fish and a wide variety of restaurants, so I didn't feel much of a difference. Of course, in Italy there is pasta, pizza and an incredible cuisine, but in terms of food, I've adapted well here. The biggest difference, in fact, are the people and the local culture.
You had a great experience in Guimarães in terms of the fans, so how do experience the fan culture in Denmark?
"The Vitória SC fans are undoubtedly special, but the Midtjylland fans also create an incredible atmosphere. The stadium is always full, they do choreographies and are very fervent. However, I feel that they are very respectful of football and boundaries - they never cross the line. They genuinely support the team, and that's very positive. I'm glad I haven't had to go through a bad patch so far to see what the other side of the coin would be like, but in any case, the support I've felt has been great."
You scored your first goal in the last game before the break. Do you feel it was an important moment for you to establish yourself at your new club?
"Of course it's always good to score, but I try not to focus too much on that. Things happen naturally. My team-mates have helped me integrate into the team from day one, and I feel comfortable playing with them. At the moment, I'm enjoying the football, we play great football, very attackingly-minded, with possession, managing the pace of the game. It's a style that suits me perfectly and corresponds to the way I see football. Things are going well, and I'm happy about that.
Present and future at Midtjylland: "I hope it's a story full of titles"
Ousmane Diao, who came through the ranks at Mafra, and Franculino Djú, a Benfica graduate, are two examples of the quality youngsters at Midtjylland. How far can they go?
They're just two of many. I think they're both around 20 years old, but there are a lot of youngsters here with a lot of quality who will make the leap sooner or later. That surprised me a lot, because when I arrived, I didn't know how old they were, and when I found out, I was even more impressed. Their quality is obvious - you only have to watch a game, or even receive and pass a ball to realise just how talented they are. They've certainly helped us a lot, and there are only ten games to go. I'm sure they'll continue on the right path.
How do you see the future at FC Midtjylland?
"I hope it will be a story full of titles and that Midtjylland will help me grow, both as a person and as an athlete. I believe that the club has an excellent department and conditions to help me develop in that sense. That's what I'm hoping for. As for predictions, I don't know. In football, everything can change from one moment to the next. I've already experienced this in two markets, at Vitória SC and Verona. So the focus is taking it day by day.
How has your family viewed what you've achieved over the last few years?
"At 18, when I received the offer from Vitória SC, I was still at school and had to make an important choice. My mum had always been in favour of me finishing school and prioritising school ahead of football. However, the moment came when I had to decide, not just me, but also my parents, as many young people and their families go through this dilemma. I spoke to my mum, I spoke to my dad, and I realised that this was what I wanted, which they also knew, because I would give anything for this dream. They also believed in it and accompanied me in my decision. So I think it was a gamble that paid off and I'm very grateful to them for always supporting my dreams."
Was it difficult to leave home at 18 for a different city?
"I think it was more of a shock for her (mum) than for me, because I have no problem leaving my comfort zone. I've always been a bit adventurous and, at that moment, I felt I was ready to take that step in my life, to grow up and try to achieve something in football. Of course, during the early days were a bit strange, but Vitória SC always held my hand. I've had great friends since then who have helped me a lot."
"What dreams do you still have?
"In the long term, without a doubt, the Seleção (the Portuguese national team) would be a very important milestone in my life and, without a doubt, the happiest moment of my career. But what makes me wake up every day is the desire to be a better player, a better person, to respect my neighbour, to give my all and to be an example. I believe that by being an example, things just happen naturally. It's not about thinking about it too much, it's about doing the right things at the right time. And when my career is over, I want to look back and have no regrets."