When Quinta Djata welcomed her first son on September 9, 1991, no one could have predicted that Danilo Pereira would achieve such greatness in his life. Growing up in Guinea-Bissau with his best friend, Herlander Tomé from Angola, Danilo idolized Steven Gerrard and modelled his playing style after the Liverpool legend.
Thanks to his mother’s career in medicine, young Danilo had the opportunity to move to Portugal when Quinta Djata decided to continue her medical studies. In his early years in Portugal, he attended Mestre Domingos Saraiva school and began his football journey with the local club Arsenal 72.
This article delves into Danilo Pereira’s biography, offering untold facts about his childhood, early life, family, lifestyle, parents (especially his mother, Quinta Djata), personal life, net worth, and wife, Jessica Widenby. Without further ado, let’s dive into the heart of his story.
The Odyssey of a Hardcore Baller: Danilo Pereira’s Untold Story
Our version of Danilo Pereira’s History begins by presenting you with the defensive midfielder’s Life Story, from his early days to when he became famous. To whet your biography appetite, here is his boyhood to adulthood gallery — a perfect summary of Danilo Pereira’s Biography.
The Biography Summary of Danilo Pereira. Behold his Life and Rise Story.
Yes, we all know about Danilo Pereira’s exceptional physique, which allows him, like notable players Kyle Walker and Eduardo Camavinga, to excel in both midfield and defence. However, not many have delved into his biography, which is quite fascinating. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
Danilo Pereira Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, his full name is Danilo Luis Helio Pereira. He came into this world on the 9th day of September 1991 to his father and mother, Quinta Djata, in Bissau, Guinea-Bissau.
The defensive midfielder is the oldest of three children born of the union between his parents. Below is a rare photo of one of his parents.
A beautiful and rare image of one of his parents – Quinta Djata.
Danilo didn’t get to spend part of his childhood with his mother. Just when he clocked for two years, she migrated to study nursing in Portugal.
Three years later, the young lad and the rest of his family were reunited with his mother as they also moved to Portugal.
Growing Up Days:
As a little boy, the centre-back had a friend (Herlander) from Angola whose family had also relocated to Portugal. Both boys loved football so much and often played street soccer with other kids.
They dreamt of days in which they would both become successful players, and their aspirations didn’t remain a passing fantasy.
Danilo grew up idolising Steven Gerrard. He admired the English legend and hoped to make it to the top like him someday.
Danilo Pereira Family Origin:
The midfielder is a native of the West African country – Guinea-Bissau. His country was once part of the Mali Empire as well as the kingdom of Kaabu. It was colonised by Portuguese Guinea and spoke Portuguese as its official language.
Do you know?… His hometown – Bissau – is the capital city of Guinea-Bissau. Its name comes from the native word “Itchassu”, which means brave as the jaguar. According to a population report from 2015, Bissau is home to about 492,004 people. Footballers like Alejandro Balde and Toti Gomes have their roots in the West African nation.
A map that shows his place of Origin. Of course, he is an African living in Europe.
Danilo Pereira Family Background:
Apparently, he hails from a home that doesn’t joke with education. No wonder Danilo’s mother flew all the way to Europe to continue her studies in the medical line.
His family is one that is concerned with instilling a good sense of morality in their children. Also, they are an ambassador of peace and lives a contented lifestyle.
Danilo Pereira Education:
As much as the talented athlete loves soccer, he wasn’t one to miss school. He and his childhood friend, Herlander, studied at Mestre Domingos Saraiva.
A photo of the school where he had his earliest education.
Their schooling days were full of many challenges that brought the boys even closer.
Sometimes, they get to perform so well in their grades, and other times, they fail honourably and make efforts to do better afterwards.
Danilo Pereira Biography – Football Story:
From the very beginning, the budding athlete was a shy but talented kid who yearned to be a professional.
At the tender age of 8, Danilo’s parents enrolled him at Arsenal 72 Youth Academy, where he began his youth development.
A throwback picture of his days at Arsenal 72.
He moved to Estoril by the time he clocked 14 and trained there from 2005 to 2008. His tactical acumen, unparalleled technicality, and high physical potential aroused the greed of Benfica.
What a peaceful way to spend his youthful days on the pitch. See how he smiles gently as he walks down the field.
In no distant time, the defensive midfielder saw himself joining the youth team of Benfica in 2008. There, the 19-year-old completed his development in 2010.
Danilo Pereira Early Career Life:
That same year, he joined the Italian club Parma on a free transfer while honouring the clarion call from his fatherland. Hence, Danilo hit the milestone of featuring for his club and country in 2010.
Seeing that he is yet to get a space in Parma’s first squad, the club sent him on loan to Aris and then to Roda.
After helping Roda escape relegation in the Eredivisie, Danilo returned to his parent club as a robust defensive midfielder.
He was influential in the midfield of Roda, and his contribution to the team was not in vain.
However, he realised that his service was no longer needed at Parma. Hence, he returned to Portugal and joined FC Maritimo of the Primeira Liga. At the very least, he had more playing time with his new club.
Danilo Pereira Biography – Journey to Fame:
At Maritimo, the talented athlete became invincible and helped his team finish sixth place in their league.
As a result, they narrowly missed qualifying for the UEFA Europa League and lost the 2015 final of the Taca da Liga.
Of course, he was sad after losing the finals against Benfica. However, he never stopped to put in efforts to help his team stay at the top.
But that didn’t stop the media and other prestigious clubs from noticing Danilo’s unbelievable contribution to his team. His biggest breakthrough came as he joined Porto on a 4-year contract worth €4.5 million in 2015.
Moreover, his analytical ability and defensive prowess established him as a usual choice for his National senior Team A.
Of course, he was happy to feature alongside talented players like Joao Moutinho and Bruno Fernandes.
Danilo Pereira Bio – Success Story:
The tackler started winning many awards not too long after he joined Porto. He won the “Dragao de Ouro” award and was Primeira Liga’s midfielder of the month in September 2017.
Upon the departure of Hector Herrera, Danilo became his club captain and led them to win the league title in 2020.
In October of that same year, he joined Paris Saint-Germain on a year loan for a reported fee of €4 million.
Finally, his efforts paid off as he helped Porto win the League title.
However, PSG had a conditional obligation to buy him at the end of the season for a contract sum of €16 million. The truth is, he is quite happy to get to play alongside world-class players like Marco Verratti and Georginio Wijnaldum.
Winning The Euro 2016:
He was one of the twenty-three players chosen by Fernando Santos to play in Euros 2016, held in France. Fortunately, Portugal was victorious and won the competition.
Subsequently, Danilo, alongside Cedric Soares, André Gomes (AM), Renato Sanches (CM), Rafa Silva, etc, added more international accolades to their names. This came as Portugal yet again won the UEFA Nations League in 2019. The rest, as they say, is history.
He was so happy each time he helped his country win a major trophy. Also, Danilo would always remember the joy he felt in his heart when his countrymen cheered on his team.
About Jessica Widenby – Danilo Pereira’s Wife:
Having a lady who understands him and shares his vision is a blessing to the Portuguese. Yes, Danilo is happily married to his beautiful wife, Jessica Widenby.
The love birds began their relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend during his days at Parma.
Danilo Pereira has credited his wife, Jessica, for being a source of support and motivation throughout his career, both on and off the pitch.
Meet Danilo and his wife, Jessica Widenby. Indeed, they are such a lovely couple.
In June 2019, Jessica and Danilo decided to take their relationship to a higher level by tying the knot. Do you know?… Jessica Widenby is just three days older than her husband. Moreso, she is Swedish by nationality and has always supported her husband in his endeavours.
Personal Life:
Off the field, he was a fun and humble guy. Within him was the personality of a born leader. Even in the days of his youth, many kids depended on his leadership instinct.
The centre-back was an introvert and had a very polite attitude. He loves eating and does not let any opportunity to chill with good food slide. Below is a photo of Danilo having a great time with delicious sushi.
Can he really finish the entire food on the table or are there other friends who will eat along with him?
Danilo Pereira Lifestyle:
Perhaps his humble nature is one determinant that has influenced how he lives his life.
Apparently, Danilo is not much of a fashionista like Andre Silva. Also, he enjoys living a low-key lifestyle – one that doesn’t attract the media’s attention.
He does not show off luxurious assets quite often. Also, Danilo pays less attention to fashion and trends.
As I write this Biography, there has been no information about Danilo’s car or house. Nonetheless, we are certain that his earnings in soccer can afford him a comfortable house and an exotic ride.
Danilo Pereira Family Facts:
The tackler’s parents and siblings have been committed to helping him succeed in soccer.
Today, the Pereira family reaps the fruits of their boy’s hard work. We present you with detailed facts about every member of his household in this section.
About Danilo Pereira’s Father:
One of the biggest mysteries surrounding his Life Story is his dad’s identity. Of course, Danilo has gained fame in the soccer world. However, he isn’t fond of speaking much about his father.
Moreover, his devoted fans and even the media are yet to find out information about his dad. We hope he gets to set everyone at ease by revealing facts about his father soon.
About Danilo Pereira’s Mother:
The centre-back’s mom is Quinta Djata. She migrated to Portugal to pursue a career in nursing. Thanks to her resilience and strong will, Quinta raised her sons to become reliable young men.
Meet Danilo’s mother, Quinta Djata. She is a nurse and also a hardworking mom who has put lots of effort into raising her boys.
At the time of compiling this biography, Danilo’s mother worked at Hospital Amadora-Sintra.
She has been diligent in her job and used her earnings to take care of her family. Of course, the athlete is grateful for his mother’s many sacrifices in raising him.
About Danilo Pereira’s Siblings:
The talented soccer icon is not the only child of his family. He’s got two younger brothers whom he loves so much.
They are the reason he never had a boring childhood. Also, they were with him at various phases of his career development.
Now that Danilo has become successful in his endeavours, he ensures to return the favour by giving his brothers a comfortable life. We have yet to uncover their names at the time of compiling this Biography.
A rare family photo showing Danilo with his mother and brothers.
About Danilo Pereira’s Relatives:
It is no longer news that he is an introverted person who talks less about himself and his family. Hence, there has been no information about his grandfather and grandmother, as well as his uncles and aunts.
Untold Facts:
To wrap up Danilo Pereira’s Life Story, here are a few truths that would help you get a complete understanding of his Biography.
Net Worth and Salary Break Down:
Danilo Pereira has seen his earning increases dramatically over the past few years. We have estimated his 2021 Net Worth to be a whopping sum of €10 Million.
As of 2021, the talented player earns an annual salary of €4.7 million at PSG. Based on our analysis, an average Portuguese will have to work for five years to make what he earns in a week.
Danilo Pereira Religion:
Perhaps you are wondering if the midfielder believes in God. The truth of the matter is that Danilo is a Christian, and he is proud of his religious belief.
He may not always talk about his faith, but he has lived his life based on the principles of his religion.
Danilo Pereira Tattoos:
He is just too reserved and cares less about body art. Yes, Danilo has a rigid principle concerning tattoos, like Cristiano Ronaldo. Hence, he has no tattoo on his body at the time of writing this biography.
FIFA Stats:
Looking at his Stats, Danilo has a massive reserve of stamina and strength. His heading accuracy and short passing are exceptional, too.
Also, the midfielder seems to have reached the peak of his potential. Check out his 2021 FIFA stats in the photo below.
Danilo Pereira’s 2021 FIFA stats.
EndNote:
Even when racism became the order of the day, Danilo kept his head straight. He never allowed the prejudice of pessimists to influence his quest for success.
He worked so hard and even attracted some bids from Arsenal, which was later rejected.
Also, the athlete was motivated by the desire to give his family a wonderful life. Hence, he worked so hard to succeed in soccer.
Thanks to his determination to help his parents and siblings, Danilo has achieved fame and wealth.
We hope you enjoyed reading our engaging childhood story and biography facts about the Portuguese. Kindly reach out to us if you find anything that doesn’t seem right in this article.
