Claudio Braga's notable season Heart He has already been put on the radar beyond Scotland following last-day defeat to Celtic, but the striker insists his focus remains on the Edinburgh club despite transfer speculation.
The Portuguese forward has given a long interview to ball After being named the Scottish Premiership's best player of the season, Joe reflects on Hearts' dramatic campaign, heartbreak in the Scottish Cup final against Celtic, life in Edinburgh and his own future.
While transfer rumors have naturally followed his excellent campaign, Braga made it clear that it is not something he concerns himself with.
"I have two years left on my contract and I really like where I am. Anything interest-related is handled by my agents. I stay out of it."
Celtic attack and cup final heartbreak
The interview inevitably returned to the Scottish Premiership, where Hearts came close before Celtic's final victory.
Braga acknowledged that the ending was still sad.
"It was terrible. Almost everything about the season was perfect. Every time we lost or drew, we always responded by winning the next match. We had never seen two draws or two losses in a row. But after coming so close to lifting the trophy and then changing everything at the last second and having Celtic celebrate... the season stopped being historic and incredible because that last piece was the most important."
The striker also talked about not starting the game.
"It was half for physical reasons and half for tactical reasons. I had been having pain for some time and the manager decided to start the second striker, then brought me on when the centre-backs got tired. He thought the second striker could offer more physicality at the start and I would come in fresh.
"It was a bit of both. At the same time I felt good and I wanted to play. It was the biggest game of my life. But it was the manager's decision and that's OK. Obviously, because it was the biggest game of my life and I had played almost every game all season, there was this bitter feeling that I couldn't help the team more."
He then spoke about the extraordinary scenes immediately after the final whistle, when Celtic supporters invaded the pitch.
"We hardly spent any time in Glasgow. We left the pitch immediately because the Celtic fans had invaded. So we went straight to the dressing room. There was no conversation about the team, we didn't even get dressed or shower. We went straight to the bus."
Only after returning to Edinburgh did Hearst process what had actually happened.
"There were thousands of people waiting for us at Tynecastle. That's when it really hit us. As soon as we got off the bus, we all started crying. We felt we had let people down, even though no one at the club ever expected us to go that far.
"After coming so close and losing, to see so many people smiling, supporting us, singing and welcoming us like that... I get goosebumps talking about it. It was incredible. It wasn't what we wanted, but we made most of the supporters proud."
heart action happened at the right time
Braga admitted that Hearts first tried to sign him during the winter window when he was playing in Norway.
“I heard about the interest in December 2024 when I was in Norway. I only came in June 2025.”
"In football, until the contract is signed, interest is interest. They wanted me immediately and I also wanted to go immediately. We had already had several conversations, I had already met the manager, but it didn't happen and I became a little worried."
Looking back, he believes the delay actually benefited him.
"They were struggling half the season. I really wanted to go, but I didn't know if it was the right time."
"The truth is that it wasn't like that. The right time was June. If I had come in the middle of last season, maybe things wouldn't have worked out so well. My relationship with the players probably wouldn't have been as good because it becomes difficult when a team is not performing well. So I'm glad it happened."
He also admitted to being surprised by winning the league's biggest individual award.
"I thought people were crazy. I joined Hearts expecting to play football, but I never thought I would be the best player in the league. Especially because, outside of Celtic and Rangers, very few players achieve that. I never expected it."
European dream and Tynecastle atmosphere
Braga is already looking forward to Hearts' Champions League qualifier against Sturm Graz.
“I'm about to fulfill one of my biggest dreams. Just knowing that it's possible to play in the Champions League is incredible, even if it's only a qualifier.
“We are facing a very strong team in Sturm Graz, but we are also very strong at Tynecastle. We proved that last season.
"We have lost some players, it's true, but we are strengthening the team. At home, anything can happen. Away from home we will give everything, but above all we want to enjoy the opportunity, shine and take this club to the league stage."
The Portuguese striker also couldn't say much about the atmosphere in Scottish football.
"The stadiums are always packed. The atmosphere is incredible. I've never experienced anything like it."
"The whole match involves everyone. It's not just a section of the crowd – it's the whole stadium."
"I've been very lucky because Hearts have one of the biggest fan bases. The atmosphere at Tynecastle is absolutely extraordinary."
One moment especially remained with him.
"The thing that embarrassed me the most, in a good way, was when the manager left me on the bench and the supporters started singing my song right from kick-off. I was thinking, 'Please just concentrate on the game!'
"The affection of the supporters is something that has really marked me. It is very difficult to earn it at any club, especially at a club like Hearts. I will always carry it with me."
He also revealed that supporters stop him regularly around Edinburgh.
"Yes, that happens often. I'm not one of those guys who goes out much, especially during the season because it was so important. I'm a train-from-home, train-from-home guy."
Even the rival fans have treated him well.
"Everyone has been very respectful. Even the Hibernian supporters asked for pictures before having fun with me."
"I wouldn't leave the house when we lost, never, although fortunately it didn't happen often."
"Even the supporters of Celtic, Rangers and Hibs, who you would think wouldn't have a good chat with me, have always been very positive. It's like Benfica against Sporting, but I have always been approached positively and that makes me happy."
From Norwegian struggle to Scottish success
Braga also reflected on the difficult path that ultimately led him to Hearts. He admitted that he initially had no interest in moving to Norway's third division.
“No, I really didn't want to go.”
"I was playing in Portugal and I didn't think there was any point in going to the Norwegian third division."
"Honestly, I still think there was no point in not going because I didn't know what my conditions would be. I didn't know what I would earn, whether I would have a place to live."
Money was so tight that their diet became very basic.
"For a while I lived on biscuits because they were the cheapest thing available. The club didn't provide food."
"Without knowing those things, it's hard to want to go straight there when I felt comfortable in Portugal."
"But then I decided to take a risk, leave my comfort zone and see if anything would happen. It turned out to be the best decision of my life."
norway memories
The time he spent in Norway also changed him as a footballer.
“I was a lot more immature then and I played as a winger, so that makes a difference too.”
"Of course I developed a lot in Norway. They are very robotic and that's really what I was lacking – efficiency."
"For me, football was more about entertaining the crowd than winning or losing. Of course I wanted to win, but if I scored a goal, beat two players and lost 3–1, that was great for me. I learned in Norway that football doesn't work like that."
Asked if he had "drank a bit of Holland", Braga laughed.
"Yeah, something like that. I improved a lot in Norway. When I was younger I didn't understand why things weren't happening for me. Looking back now, I realize I was very immature."
He also admitted that he feared his career would never take off.
"It's incredible. I always struggled to be a footballer, but I never expected all this. I always wanted this and I gave everything, but it's different when you're actually there."
"You also start thinking that you're getting older. I was 22 or 23 and thinking, 'If it doesn't happen next year, I'll be finished.' “Looking back now, I realize I was just being impatient and a little crazy.”
settle in scotland
Braga says settling in Scotland was easier than expected.
"I felt at home as soon as I arrived. I adapted well in Norway, but that was the third division. Coming to Scotland and adapting so quickly at such a high level was not by chance. Everyone here has been incredible with me."
He also described his daily routine in Edinburgh, saying he lives about ten minutes from the city centre, enjoys spending time with his family, has become close friends with a Portuguese couple from his hometown Vila Nova de Gaia, and loves Edinburgh, calling it "one of my favorite cities because of its beauty".
However, for now his focus is exactly where Hearts supporters would want him to be: helping the club build on last season's remarkable campaign, rather than wondering what might happen next.
