"I Want To Be More Important": Fabio Silva Demands Bigger Borussia Dortmund Role Amid Transfer Speculations
Borussia Dortmund striker Fabio Silva has demanded a more prominent role at the club despite ongoing speculation surrounding his summer transfer future.
Borussia Dortmund striker Fabio Silva has demanded a more prominent role at the club despite ongoing speculation surrounding his summer transfer future. Speaking following Dortmund's 2-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the German Super Cup, the Portuguese forward made it clear that he wants more playing time in the upcoming season. Silva, who came on off the bench and scored Dortmund's only goal of the match in the 75th minute, remains uncertain about his long-term stay at Signal Iduna Park but expressed a strong desire to make a greater impact.
Addressing the persistent reports linking him with a move away from the club this summer, Silva maintained that his primary focus remains on his performance on the pitch.
"This is not the most important thing right now. I don't know what's going to happen. The most important was the game today," Silva said during NDTV's visit to Dortmund in Germany. "I feel good. Of course, I want to start more games. I want to be more important in this team. If I say no, I'm going to be lying. I'm always telling the truth. For me, I want to be more important. I want to play more games, of course."
Reflecting on his tactical versatility and contributions, the 24-year-old emphasized his unique qualities upfront.
"Everyone sees what I did last season in the minutes I played and the assists I gave to my teammates. I think I'm not a normal number nine. I'm more of a nine-and-a-half. I can do assists, movements, score goals, I can do a lot of things, and I expect this."
Dortmund found themselves behind early after goals from Nathaniel Brown and Michael Olise put Bayern 2-0 up at half-time. However, an energetic second-half response led by Silva helped BVB pull one back.
"In the first half, of course, we respected Bayern a lot," Silva noted.Â
"In the second half, we tried to play more, to have more control and rhythm in the game. We have the players with the quality to do that. So, yeah, I think the second half was positive. We have to stay like this."
Silva also praised the club's transfer business and new additions, highlighting their potential impact on the attacking structure.
"Our Sporting Director is doing a good job bringing these players. They are so talented and have a lot to show to this club to bring victories and trophies to the fans. We know where we have to be and what they are capable of doing. We are doing these things in training to make it more natural."
Despite his young age, Silva highlighted his experience in adjusting to new environments across European leagues and expressed a willingness to help squad members adapt.
"I know what it's like to arrive in a new country and not understand the language," he said. "The culture is different. It happened to me in England when I left Porto. It was difficult. But I'm there to help. I'm just one more person to assist."
"I have this connection because I've been to a few places in my career," Silva added. "I always try to pass this on to the younger players, even though I'm still young. People sometimes think I'm old, but I'm only 24 years old."
With the transfer window reaching its closing stages, Silva's  pre-season form and impact off the bench present Dortmund with a crucial decision regarding his squad role for the campaign ahead.
Borussia Dortmund