Tavares: "I hope to leave behind a great legacy wearing the crest of this team"

Walter Tavares spoke to Real Madrid's official media following the announcement of his renewal with the club until 2029. The centre was very excited and commented: "This is a dream. My mind has been on Real Madrid at all times. In the end I've managed to stay here and I'm very happy to have achieved that goal."
"The desire is still the same, but I have learnt many things such as having patience, calm and knowing how to control myself in the moments when the team needs me. It is often difficult to control the things that happen in a game and I don't like that, but I always try to be as calm as possible. As Chacho told me, you have to have a robot mentality no matter what happens and stay in the game."
What does Real Madrid mean in your life?
"It means everything because it's a way of life. The values of the club and the things it transmits are what fulfil me the most. Everything that happens on a day-to-day basis are things that you have to overcome, believing and having faith until the last moment. That is what it conveys to me, it satisfies me and I'm proud to be here."
Motivation
"I'm motivated enough to be here for a long period of time. I have to be the Edy I am now, try to improve, help the team until the last moment and in whatever it needs. I want to keep improving as a player, never stop doing that and keep working to win more titles."
The team is a family
"That's the key to the team. The year is very long, we have more than 90 games and we see each other every day. That helps the players, the kit men and the coaching staff a lot. We're a family and that's why the year is so easy for us. We travel, we play a lot of games and that helps us in the important moments of the season. When the team goes through bad times, we all pull together and turn things round."
Overcoming adversity
"I remember the games when people thought we couldn't win, when things go wrong, when there are no options and they don't believe we can turn things around. I say this with pride and I hope that in the future we can continue to improve on our goals and objectives."
Exceeding expectations
"At the beginning I thought I wouldn't stay for long, because in the end you're at a very big club. You don't know if you will exceed expectations, but to be able to stay here for a few more years is unbelievable. I hope to leave behind a great legacy wearing the crest of this team."
The club's values
"I always try to focus on my new team-mates. Those who are here already know what it's like here and I try to instil the values that the team and the club have, where we have to go and what the goal is. I always try to express what we stand for, which is to give everything. We put our all into every ball, every game and every title. Here we play to win titles and that is the objective. I always try to instil the values of the club, which is what you have to have to win games and be great players."
What do you expect from next season?
"I hope it will be a very good season. I want to continue in the same vein, trying to do my best to help the team and be in all the important moments of the season. My goal is to be good enough to help out in any way I can."
Support from the fans
"The fans have helped me a lot. I remember last year in a game against Manresa when I missed a few free throws and they started to applaud me and encourage me. That's when I realised that the fans have supported me in all the difficult moments and have always tried to support me. They know what I give and what a player I am. It's very gratifying and I'm looking forward to representing them with all the strength in the world. I can't wait to come back again to start a new season with them."
Message to the madridistas
"At the end the moment we all wanted has arrived and that is that I can stay here for a long time. I hope to do my best, to be up to the task and to give my all to make you happy. I'm proud to represent you and we're going to do everything we can to win every title. Hala Madrid!"