Three and a half weeks ago, Dante Bonfim Costa played for FC Bayern in the 3-0 win against Leverkusen. Next day the Brazilian decided to join VfL Wolfsburg and now he is set to return to the Allianz Arena for the first time on Tuesday night. He will receive an official send-off from FC Bayern before the match.
Dante made 133 competitive appearances (scoring five goals) in his three years with Germany's most successful club. In this time he won three German league titles, two DFB Cups, the Champions League, the FIFA Club World Cup and the UEFA Super Cup. Ahead of the reunion, the soon to be 32-year-old spoke to the Bayern Magazine.
INTERVIEW: DANTE
Dante, we soon meet again. How does it feel to know you will be in the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night but not in a Bayern shirt?
Dante: "It definitely feels good to be back again. The three years in Munich were great and I have a lot of positive memories from that time. I'm looking forward to seeing former team-mates, fans, coaches and staff again."
Three years in Munich, three very successful years at FC Bayern: What were your best moments in your time here?
Dante: "The best thing was winning the Champions League. The club had waited a long time for that success. And then we did it in my first year here. It was a very emotional moment."
You were very popular at the club, in the dressing room and also with the fans. Who or what do you miss most?
Dante: "I can't really say. I actually miss everybody and I can say that from the bottom of my heart. I made a lot of friends in Munich – including team-mates, staff members and fans – and of course I particularly miss them."
How have your first few weeks been at your new club VfL Wolfsburg? Have your compatriots Naldo and Luiz Gustavo helped you to settle in?
Dante: "I was able to fit in with the team very quickly and of course Naldo and Luiz played their part in that. They told me a lot of good things about the team and the club before I went there. I already feel very much at home."
If the coach Dieter Hecking asks you about Bayern's strengths and weaknesses what will you say to him?
Dante: (laughs) "I'd rather not tell you that."
At FC Bayern you learned what it means to have to win every game. Will that mentality help you at Wolfsburg or can you help your new team with a bit of Mia san Mia, ‘we are who we are’?
Dante: "The feeling of ‘we are who we are’ will be with me forever. But I have to say that I always had the mentality of wanting to win everything and not wanting to relax after winning. The management at VfL knew that and that's why they brought me to Wolfsburg."
How far do you think VfL can go in the three competitions?
Dante: "We got off to a good start against CSKA Moscow in the Champions League. But you could see we’re capable of playing better. We face a very tough task against Bayern in the DFB Cup. But we have the advantage of being at home. FC Bayern and Dortmund are doing well in the league. Our aim is to finish in the top three to make sure we qualify for the Champions League. Perhaps we’ll end up with a title."
You're coming to Munich with Wolfsburg at the time of the Oktoberfest. Did you like going to the Oktoberfest in lederhosen? And will you be able to go this year?
Dante: "I think I really suit lederhosen (laughs). But I won't be able to make the Oktoberfest this year as we've got so many games coming up. I always used to really like going there. The whole culture with the Bavarian food and the big beer glasses – the Germans know how to have fun."
