Tunisian national team defender Mahmoud Ghorbel has become a new player for FC Sheriff and has already started preparing for the second half of the season with the team.

The 22-year-old native of Sfax has come a long way from the Sfaxien FC academy to playing for his country's national team, and now, for the first time in his career, he is embarking on a European stage – in yellow and black.

In his first interview as a Sheriff FC player, Mahmoud Gorbeli talks about his initial emotions regarding the transfer, adapting to a new country, his goals with the Tiraspol club, and his dream of playing in the World Cup.

- Mahmoud, your move to Sheriff FC is your first move to Europe. How did you feel when you found out about the transfer?
- I was very happy and proud of myself. When I found out about Sheriff's interest, my family shared my emotions. Now the most important thing is to work hard and move step by step towards my goals.

– How difficult was it to decide to leave your home country?
– It's a really difficult step. It's not easy to get into European football from Tunisia – in my opinion, only strong players can do it. I got this chance and I'm not going to stop. I want to grow and climb even higher.

– What does it mean to you to start your European career with Sheriff?
– It's very important to me. I want to show everything I'm capable of. My goal is to get called up to the national team again, play in the World Cup, win the championship with Sheriff, and play in the Champions League.

– How are you adapting to the club, including the coaching staff's requirements?
– I have no problems adapting. The team and coaching staff are made up of high-level professionals who are very helpful in everything. I am grateful to them for that.

– What experience gained at Sfaxien and Monastir do you consider the most important?
– I played in many important matches, including the CAF Champions League. The level of football in Tunisia is quite high, and I am sure that this experience will help me here and in the future.

– You have already played three matches for the Tunisian national team. How has this affected your mindset as a footballer?
– This is a very important stage in my career. I have played for all the age-group national teams and played in the Youth World Cup in Argentina. Playing for the national team is a completely different level and brings special emotions.

– Do you think that moving to Europe will help you get called up to the national team more often?
– Absolutely. Almost all of the players on the Tunisian national team play in Europe, and that affects the call-ups. I hope that playing for Sheriff will increase my chances of returning to the national team.

– What qualities are particularly important for a player in your position in modern football?
– Speed, active participation in attacks, and good interaction with teammates in defense.

– What do you want to work on in the near future?
– I want to get involved in attacks more often, make more effective passes, and, if possible, score goals.

– What role do you see for yourself in the team's European Cup matches?
– First, I need to perform my tasks well and help the team qualify for the European Cups. In football, everything is decided by the team, and only together can we achieve success.

– How do you recover after hard training sessions?
– Physically, by drinking lots of water. Mentally, by communicating with my family and friends.

– Which is more important: talent or hard work?
– Hard work.

– Do you remember the moment when you realized you wanted to become a footballer?
– As a child, I played football all the time. In that situation, school took a back seat, my mother noticed this and took me to the Sfaxien academy. That's how my journey began.

– Who was the first to believe in you?
– First, it was me.

– What helps you stay motivated during difficult moments of the season?
– Believing in myself. My family and my goals are always on my mind, and that gives me the strength to move forward.

Sheriff FC Press Service