Carlos Pereyra: The "Neftchi" project seemed very ambitious to me, and I quickly wanted to be a part of it

"Neftchi," the leader in the Azerbaijani men's volleyball championship, has taken another step to strengthen its squad. The club recently transferred Cuban volleyball player Carlos Pereyra Larre.

In an interview with Idman.Biz, the attacker shared his first impressions of the transfer and spoke about what made the offer attractive.

- You are starting a new stage in your career in Baku. Do these changes inspire you?

- Undoubtedly. This is a very important and exciting moment for me. Playing in Azerbaijan means rising to a new level, testing myself in a more competitive league, and gaining valuable international experience. I feel a strong motivation to prove that I can be useful to the team.

- How did your transfer happen?

- Everything happened quite calmly and professionally. My agent conveyed "Neftchi's" interest to me, and then we discussed the terms, the club's goals, and my role in the team. The project seemed very ambitious to me, and I quickly realized that I wanted to be a part of it.

- Currently, "Neftchi" has two Cubans, two Brazilians, and one Colombian playing for them. Can we say that the team has a distinct Latin American "accent"?

- You could say that (smiles). Latin Americans bring a lot of emotion, energy, and passion to volleyball. I think this could be our advantage. At the same time, there are other players in the team, and we are trying to create a unified collective. Nationality doesn't matter here — the main thing is the result.

- You previously played for the "Avispas de Santiago" club in your homeland. You grew up in this team, where the legendary Wilfredo Leon once played. How do you currently assess the level of Cuban volleyball?

- Cuban volleyball is still very talented. We have young, physically strong players and a good school. It is possible that infrastructure and financial opportunities lag behind some European countries, but in terms of individual skill, Cuba has always been competitive, and it still is today.

- Last season, you were named the best attacker in the Cuban league. Would you like to achieve a similar achievement in Azerbaijan?

- Of course, individual awards are nice for every athlete. But for me, the team's success always comes first. If my good game helps "Neftchi" win, then I'm doing my job right. Personal achievements will be a nice bonus.